2nd Take (2011)

Directed by John Suits
Starring Tom Everett Scott and Sarah Jones
Runtime 103min. - Not Rated
3 Stars (out of 4)

2nd Take is available for as low as $3.99 on ITunes, Amazon Instant, and YouTube.

They say all good writing is autobiographical in some way. I think that's the case for "2nd Take", which is very tragic. The screenwriter chose to write about a screenwriter who's writing about a screenwriter. It'd take hard evidence to convince me that the story is totally fictional. It appeals to nostalgia with its constant referencing of "Casablanca", which I publicly endorse as the greatest film of all time.

Peter (Scott) owns a storage and shipping facility not unlike a U-Haul franchise. His clientele seems to be made up entirely of hookers, which I find fascinating. I suppose it's convenient for them to store their belongings and then walk to the corner. It's hinted in the movie that they might be using their storage space for unsanctioned purposes; drugs, sex, sleep. Peter is in no place to judge since he's a frequent partaker of their services. He doesn't have sex with the prostitutes; he just sleeps next to them and holds their hands. I thought this might lead to some Patrick Bateman-like activity, but it's quite the opposite. Peter doesn't even get angry when he wakes up and finds a hooker stealing from him. He convinces her to give back the object because of its sentimental value. This behavior is a big clue to Peter's personality and his past. Tom Everett Scott plays the character with bottled-up emotional turmoil and a perpetually straight face. It's the decisions of the character that give him away.

One of Peter's clients, Charlie (Jones), is new to the world's oldest profession. She's an aspiring actress with no day-job or home. After she drops off her belongings she heads to the street corner, but she obviously has no idea what she's doing. As he's out shopping, Peter notices the police rounding up the other girls so he decides to pick up Charlie before she gets arrested. Peter takes her home and pours her a drink. After another drink or twenty, she passes out in bed. Peter sleeps on the couch. When she wakes in the morning he gives her $1,000 despite the lack of sex.

The rest of the film sees Peter trying to teach Charlie how to act. He starts by showing her "Casablanca". She's very bothered by the way it ends. Peter explains to her that romance is expressed by the sacrifice that Rick makes for Ilsa. This scene exists mostly for foreshadowing. There are other "Casablanca" references in the film, but only this one tells us what's in store for Peter.

As an aside, Charlie contends that the real romance is occurring between Rick and Capt. Louis Renault, which Roger Ebert alludes to in his review.

The movie is certainly not a rom-com, but it is funny. Due to his straight face, all of the comedy is bounced off of Peter. When presented with a screenplay from a fellow employee he reads it and calmly proclaims, "It's really bad." He asks his writer what his major was. "Anthropology" he replies. "Do that, do anthropology." says Peter.

I took issue with one character in the film, Karen (played by Julanne Chidi Hill). She's the only black character I recall in the film. I appreciate the attempt to diversify the cast, but the character is awful. Isn't it more racist to have a black woman in your film that fits a negative stereotype rather than not have one at all? The same could be said of gay characters. When there is only one gay man in a movie he is almost universally represented as effeminate and flamboyant. I'd rather see an accurate sample of a minor population in a film than one stereotypical character. If a filmmaker can't accommodate that wish, I'd prefer they make their cast all white.

Not long ago, a friend of mine lamented the lack of romantic tragedies in film today. She makes a good point. Romantic comedies seem to be pouring out of some factory in Hollywood. No one wants to produce a film where the viewer isn't assured that love conquers all. That's probably a big reason why "2nd Take" hasn't hit your local multiplex theater.

Despite the racial representation, the film was very satisfying. I'm not immune to bias though, and "2nd Take" certainly played to my weaknesses. What does that mean? If you like romance, dry humor, and hookers, then this movie's for you.