ROADIE

Following PARIAH, I watched another low budget and understated film about a lost soul/prodigal son who returns home to reconnect with his mother and old friends. Jimmy Testagross (Ron Eldard) left home long ago to become a rock band roadie. He has spent most of that time working for classic rock group Blue Oyster Cult. After being fired from the job, Jimmy finds himself back in Queens with nowhere to go or nothing to do. He decides to visit his elderly mother (Lois Smith) and ends up running into his ex-girlfriend (Jill Hennessy) and her husband, high school bully (Bobby Cannavale). Jimmy lies to his mother and friends, boasting of having worked up the ladder from roadie to manager who sometimes writes and produces. His time at home becomes a huge reality check which slaps him across the face and becomes a major turning point in his life.

I enjoyed the movie, even though I have seen many other like it. Writer/director Michael Cuesta who co-wrote the script with Gerald Cuesta creates a true to life story with solid writing. The film can definitely boast excellent performances by Eldard, Hennessy, Smith, and Cannavale. For the writing and acting alone, this film is worth a viewing.

Mark Saldana
The Movie Doc