Charlie Zone (2013)

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Avery (Glen Gould) is a prize fighter turned street fighter/dock worker. He is hired to rescue Jan (Amanda Crew) from a smack house to return to her parents. He runs into some issues as Jan really doesn't want to be rescued at this time and there are all kinds of people looking for her and will kill anyone who gets in the way. Avery gets in deep, and stays committed as the story takes a twist.This is a crime/drama with some action. The characters didn't grab you. There was nothing special about the twist, in fact it made the film cliche and formulaic. Glen Gould plays a rather boring leading man. It makes for an acceptable Canadian rental at best.Parental Guide: F-bombs. No sex or nudity.

Charlie Zone (2011): Dir: Michael Melski / Cast: Glen Gould, Amanda Crew, Pasha Ebrahimi, Mpho Koaho, Cindy Sampson: Low budget gritty action thriller about the further descend into danger. Glen Gould plays ex-boxer Avery who is reduced to bare knuckle fighting in back allies for extra cash. Central plot has him contacted and sent on a quest to find a drugged up teenage girl who is in a dangerous crowd and bring her home. He quest takes him to a drug house run by a gang for which the girl he is seeking is involved with the leader. After invading the house he chooses to abduct her. Here is where one of the flaws sets in. He takes her to a garage where he speaks to a third party. Any normal person would make noise in the trunk but she just obeys when ordered to be quiet. A normal person would have thought ahead and had her bound and gagged just in case she squeaked. Director Michael Melski scored a more interesting premise with Growing Op but here he still presents a life where the glory days are a distant memory. The violence is brutal particularly when a motorcycle gang gets involved but the two leads are a strong focus. Glen Gould plays off a guy who was once a big player but now scraping the bottom of the barrel. He senses that something is not right with this quest and learns some hard facts. Amanda Crew plays the girl he is set to kidnap for her family. She reveals facts that come to a close during a melodramatic climax. Other roles serve mainly as punching bags or objects to beat up otherwise Melski's film gives its hero a second chance to descend to greatness where it matters. Score: 6 / 10

Avery Paul (Glen Gould) is a street fighter and an ex-con. One day, he's approach by Ava. She hires him to abduct drug-addicted Jan (Amanda Crew) for $20k from her criminal gang and deliver her back to her family. When he takes her, he demands more money but then there is more to her story.This is definitely a small Canadian indie with the prerequisite lack of budget. That's not that big of a deal. It actually works well with the gritty drug scene. Glen Gould is not a notable name nor does he have a big screen presence. However he does have a little bit of Bronson in him, and this has a bit of that grimy low-life Death Wish vibe. Then the movie gets more violent after the turn. That's when a more experienced director could get better looking shots. Michael Melski doesn't have the skills yet or the style. However there is an edginess to this low budget indie.

I saw Charlie Zone last night and was very impressed. It was well written and fast paced, and the acting was fabulous. I've lived in Halifax, so it was fun to see the city -- albeit its violent, seedier side -- as the backdrop of a major film. The movie was very well received at the 2011 Atlantic Fim Festival (winning four awards) and is finally enjoying a deserved limited release in Canadian theatres. I hope it does well enough to merit more screenings across the country. Get out and see this movie if you get the chance! Nova Scotian writer Joseph LeClair and writer/director Michael Melski have a great future ahead of them.