Search

One

2000, Movie, NR, 88 mins

One: Review

ONE
starstarstarstar
Twenty-eight-year-old writer-director Tony Barbieri's surprisingly mature debut feature is a moody, beautifully acted character piece about two close friends whose lives have stalled and the conflict that ultimately drives them apart. It opens with Charlie O'Connell (Jason Cairns) stepping through the gates of California's Unionville State Prison, where he's been doing time for helping his terminally ill grandfather die. Waiting for Charlie is high school friend Nick (Kane Picoy), who offers him a place to stay until he gets back on his feet. Once a promising ballplayer signed to a New York Yankees farm team, Nick blew his future when he punched out his manager and earned himself a reputation as a "head case." Now he's hauling garbage, drinking beer and living out of his parents' basement. Nick gets Charlie a job with the sanitation department, which is fine for the moment, but Charlie has other plans: He wants find his own place, go back to school and maybe become a teacher. Hemmed in by his own self-destructive impulses, Nick resents his friend's ambition and grows increasingly bitter when Charlie begins dating Sara (Autumn MacIntosh), the owner of the medical-supply business with whom he's been doing his community service, and appears to be finding happiness. This is a character-driven drama in the truest sense of the term: Nick's and Charlie's destinies are fully motivated by who they are. Even when the film reaches it unexpected climax, the events are perfectly in keeping with who we know these two men to be. Cairns and Picoy both give restrained yet careful performances, and Matthew Irving's cinematography helps maintain the film's aura of intimacy while never intruding. His camera approaches the action, slowly tracking down hallways and shooting around corners, catching Barbieri's characters during their most revealing moments. leave a comment --Ken Fox
Advertisement

Shop

Mad Men - Season One [Blu-ray]
Buy Mad Men - Season One [Blu-ray] from Amazon.com
From Lions Gate (Blu-ray)
Average Customer Review: nostarnostarnostarnostarhalfstar
Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy New: $23.99 (as of 12/02/09 9:43 PM EST - more info)
The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible
Buy The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible from Amazon.com
From Simon & Schuster (Paperback)
Average Customer Review: nostarnostarnostarnostarhalfstar
Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy New: $10.20 (as of 12/02/09 9:43 PM EST - more info)

more One products

Advertisement

Related Websites

You might be also interested in the following websites:

Most Popular TV Shows

  1. NCIS
  2. Dancing with the Stars
  3. The Game
  4. Biggest Loser
  5. American Idol
more popular tv shows

Most Popular Celebrities

  1. Tiger Woods
  2. Jaimee Grubbs
  3. Rachel Uchitel
  4. Elin Nordegren
  5. Serena Williams
more popular celebrities

Most Popular Movies

  1. The Twilight Saga: New Moon
  2. The Blind Side
  3. 2012
  4. Old Dogs
  5. A Christmas Carol
more popular movies

Top Videos

  1. Victorias Secret
  2. Desperate Housewives
  3. NCIS
  4. House
  5. Nip/Tuck
more top videos