"CATCH THE FAIR ONE" // BENTONVILLE 2021 FILM FESTIVAL

BY MATEO MORENO

NOTE: This review was originally posted on 6/20/21 as part of the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival Coverage. It's reposted here as part of the 2021 Bentonville Film Festival Coverage.

 One of the biggest challenges in a boxing film is finding an actor who can successfully feel like a powerful fighter. Luckily, CATCH THE FAIR ONE doesn't have that problem, as it's cast Kali Reis, a real-life boxing champion in two weight classes. She immediately adds the authenticity that the film needs in order to focus on the harrowing subject that lays within. Reis plays Kaylee, a Native American boxer who is set to go undercover in an attempt to find her missing sister within a trafficking ring. She's been haunted by the memory of her sister and refuses to believe that she's gone, only that she's missing. She knows that no one is looking for her because she's just another Native girl, and that she's most likely the last hope she has in finding her. In fact, one character says just as much stating, "Nobodys looking for her because nobody cares."

Kaylee's journey is a tough one to watch, as we see Kaylee plunge into a very brutal underworld filled with some truly horrible people. She has a haunted history behind her eyes, pain in every step. Reis herself is an activist in real life, and the film explores a topic that's close to her heart. She herself works with the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Movement (MMIW) and as a co-writer of this story, this adds yet another element of authenticity. There's been a good number of fighters turn to acting in the past several years, with varying degrees of success. And with such an important topic to address here, it's a relief that Reis turns in a heartbreaking and beautiful performance here. She's raw and fiery and every step feels like it's weighted with a thousand possible decisions. She's a one person army, but unlike a Hollywood style action hero, this is one that isn't guaranteed to make the ending credits feel so cathartic.

The film is often subtle and understated, brutal and broken with a muted cinematography by Ross Giardina. Telling a story from a Native point of view is also a most welcome viewpoint, as the film explores colonialism and the very real violence against Native women. Wladyka directs the film with a tense and powerful edge, keeping the action tight and sometimes even dreamlike. Being produced by Darren Aronofsky should give CATCH THE FAIR ONE the exposure it needs to be seen by a wider audience, as it deserves to be seen far and wide.

Chaired by Academy Award® winner Geena Davis, the Bentonville Film Festival is a one-of-a-kind annual event that champions inclusion in all forms of media. BFF is a year-long platform with the BFFoundation, culminating with a six-day festival, in collaboration with the founding sponsor, Walmart, and presenting sponsor, Coca-Cola. The Bentonville Film Festival is held annually in Bentonville, Arkansas and the surrounding region of Northwest Arkansas.

 GRADE: A-

WRITTEN BY Josef Kubota Wladyka, Kali Reis DIRECTED BY Josef Kubota Wladyka STARRING Kali Reis, Daniel Henshall, Tiffany Chu, Michael Drayer, Kimberly Guerrero, Lisa Emery, Kevin Dunn SELECTED AS PART OF THE 2021 BENTONVILLE FILM FESTIVAL. FOR MORE INFO: CATCH THE FAIR ONE

"CATCH THE FAIR ONE" // TRIBECA 2021

BY MATEO MORENO

One of the biggest challenges in a boxing film is finding an actor who can successfully feel like a powerful fighter. Luckily, CATCH THE FAIR ONE doesn't have that problem, as it's cast Kali Reis, a real-life boxing champion in two weight classes. She immediately adds the authenticity that the film needs in order to focus on the harrowing subject that lays within. Reis plays Kaylee, a Native American boxer who is set to go undercover in an attempt to find her missing sister within a trafficking ring. She's been haunted by the memory of her sister and refuses to believe that she's gone, only that she's missing. She knows that no one is looking for her because she's just another Native girl, and that she's most likely the last hope she has in finding her. In fact, one character says just as much stating, "Nobodys looking for her because nobody cares."

Kaylee's journey is a tough one to watch, as we see Kaylee plunge into a very brutal underworld filled with some truly horrible people. She has a haunted history behind her eyes, pain in every step. Reis herself is an activist in real life, and the film explores a topic that's close to her heart. She herself works with the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Movement (MMIW) and as a co-writer of this story, this adds yet another element of authenticity. There's been a good number of fighters turn to acting in the past several years, with varying degrees of success. And with such an important topic to address here, it's a relief that Reis turns in a heartbreaking and beautiful performance here. She's raw and fiery and every step feels like it's weighted with a thousand possible decisions. She's a one person army, but unlike a Hollywood style action hero, this is one that isn't guaranteed to make the ending credits feel so cathartic.

The film is often subtle and understated, brutal and broken with a muted cinematography by Ross Giardina. Telling a story from a Native point of view is also a most welcome viewpoint, as the film explores colonialism and the very real violence against Native women. Wladyka directs the film with a tense and powerful edge, keeping the action tight and sometimes even dreamlike. Being produced by Darren Aronofsky should give CATCH THE FAIR ONE the exposure it needs to be seen by a wider audience, as it deserves to be seen far and wide.

GRADE: A-

WRITTEN BY Josef Kubota Wladyka, Kali Reis DIRECTED BY Josef Kubota Wladyka STARRING Kali Reis, Daniel Henshall, Tiffany Chu, Michael Drayer, Kimberly Guerrero, Lisa Emery, Kevin Dunn SELECTED AS PART OF THE 2021 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL. FOR MORE INFO: CATCH THE FAIR ONE

VIRTUE IS BOLD // A FILM REVIEW OF "MEASURE FOR MEASURE"

BY MATEO MORENO

Modern Shakespeare adaptations can vary wildly in terms of quality. Directors often tackle very unique takes on The Bard's stories because they've been told so many times, over and over. The new Australian gritty adaptation of MEASURE FOR MEASURE, directed by Paul Ireland and adapted by himself and the late Damian Hill, moves the action to modern day Australia and in the middle of a gang war. One of the crime bosses is Duke (Hugo Weaving), who sits high in his tower, overlooking the city. His nephew Angelo (Mark Leonard Winter) is the second in command but is a hot head and is dealing meth all around the city. One of his customers, strung out of his mind, goes on a shooting spree and kills multiple people, including a young black man playing basketball and barely misses hitting Jaiwara (Megan Smart), a young Muslim girl. She survives because Claudio (Harrison Gilbertson) pushes her out of the way. They escape together and spend the rest of the day together, quickly falling for each other.

Duke orders Angelo to stop selling Meth, as dealing is not something he approves of. He's forced to leave town until the heat dies down, so he leaves Angelo in charge (which is the worst possible thing to do). However, he doesn't fully trust that his nephew won't screw it up, so Duke keeps watch on him the entire time. Meanwhile, the forbidden love between Claudio and Jaiwara is discovered by Jaiwara's brother, and the other crime lord in town, Farouk (Fayssal Bazzi) and he is none too pleased. A lot of plotlines, you say? Well, no one ever accused Shakespeare of a light plotline.

MEASURE FOR MEASURE is one of Sheakespeare's "problem plays" and is constantly described as a comedy, even though it switches tone drastically, from light comedy to very heavy drama. So by eliminating the comic elements all together, Ireland's version feels much stronger for it. The cast is dynamic. Hugo Weaving is richly compelling as a hardened boss with a sympathetic side. Megan Smart is dynamic. She takes the smallest moments and makes magic with them. Harrison Gilbertson doesn't have as much to do (other than being scared A LOT) but he is charming and has solid chemistry with Smart. Both Mark Leonard Winter and Fayssal Bazzi add a great urgency and power to their roles, while the rest of the supporting cast all shine in smaller moments. It isn't a perfect adaptation, but what is? Some of the subjects are not quite delved into deep enough, the end falls apart a bit and I wasn't a fan at all of the final moment of the film at all. Overall though, this adaption of MEASURE FOR MEASURE is a finely acted treat.

GRADE: B

BASED ON THE PLAY BY William Shakespeare ADAPTED BY Damian Hill, Paul Ireland DIRECTED BY Paul Ireland STARRING Hugo Weaving, Harrison Gilbertson, Megan Smart, Mark Leonard Winter, Fayssal Bazzi, Daniel Henshall, Doris Younane. Now Available at Digital Cinemas.