Kate: You think that old people, once they get old, their fear of death disappears?
Max: No, everyone is afraid of death, anyone who says they’re not is fucking lying.

Sometimes fate just kicks down your doorstep, and sometimes when you’re not looking for it, life comes to you, and then you have to take it from there. Coop is a generally closed off young man who still lives with his parents, and finds himself at home asleep, and preparing for a meeting at his job at “Barnes & Nobles.” His friend Max interrupts his night and crashes the house inviting over two girls, one of whom is Coop’s dream girl, Liz. Burke turns what could have been another whiney moany dialogue ridden piece of melodrama and actually makes it pop turning it into a rather insightful and very interesting coming of age short.

Most helpful is Burke’s direction as his camera work is based around a series of shaky close ups and hovering around the characters, which adds to the sense of realism that we’re eavesdropping, instead of watching. Best of all is the writing in which Burke enlists fluid dialogue that never felt padded and turns these characters into truly complex individuals, even though they start off as booze chugging teens. Burke begs the question, not of what will happen that night, but what will happen as a result of that night. He leaves the door open, and one can only really imagine. The interplay between characters is never forced, and that’s due to the all around very good performances from the cast, particularly from Weinberg whose portrayal of Coop is sympathetic and low-key.

He’s shy without being bland. The film only becomes more insightful as Burke studies human interaction and relationships well. Burke takes vapid characters and paints them into more complex individuals, people whom are living their lives quickly, and discover they’re all afraid of something. Coop’s own situation and his desire to revert back to a child is his own projection of fear of interacting with others, and approaching the girl he’s in love with. Burke’s short is very reminiscent of films like “The Big Chill,” and he presents an interesting and entertaining drama.

Burke's drama is very well done. It's tight, well paced, well acted, wonderfully written, and presents a coming of age tale wrapped in existentialism revolving around growing old and grabbing life by the balls before it's all over. I really enjoyed this.

• For information on how to purchase "Coop's Night In," and on information for Elantra films releases, visit the official website: http://www.elantrafilms.com

[   Link to Us   |   FAQ   |   Top^   ]
All written reviews material and content are a copyright of Felix Vasquez Jr. and Cinema Crazed.
Content borrowed without written permission will not be permitted.

¤ ¤ ¤