Writer/director Richard Linklater ("Dazed and Confused") has been
feeling quite experimental lately. A little over a month ago his
ambitious yet unfocused animated film "Waking Life" hit theaters.
He's back with "Tape," which is just as ardent in its own right but
far more successful.
Adapted by Stephen Belber from his own play and shot in merely six days, "Tape" is a three-character drama that never leaves a motel room and unfolds in real time. It's 90 minutes of a lot of talking and almost dizzying camera work, but it flies by so fast you'll be amazed it's not a short film.
Ethan Hawke ("Training Day") is Vince, a lazy, underachieving slacker with an alcohol and substance abuse problem. He is a volunteer fireman in Oakland and deals drugs to make ends meet.
Robert Sean Leonard ("Dead Poet's Society") is John, Vince's best friend in high school. He is meeting Vince in the latter's motel room in East Lansing, Michigan. John is presenting his film at the East Lansing Film Festival and Vince has come to town to see John and the movie.
They hardly see each other anymore, and at first the two are delighted to be hanging out again. They hug, exchange pleasantries and seem genuinely excited to have met up. But the mood quickly shifts.
As Vince continues to drink and do drugs, the conversation becomes more and more heated. The old friends begin to pick at each other and reveal what they truly think of the other. John comments on Vince's lack of direction, choice of profession and general indolence. When Vince tells John that his longtime girlfriend broke up with him because she felt he has violent tendencies, John can see her point.
Vince, on the other hand, points out John's arrogance, self-importance and general feeling of superiority. He fancies himself a serious filmmaker and thinks his work can positively change the world. Vince bluntly, off-handedly says that he is full of himself and his movie isn't that good. It becomes evident that Vince isn't as dumb as you might think.
As the verbal sparring continues and escalates, a person from their past is brought up. Her name is Amy (Uma Thurman) and she is an assistant DA in East Lansing. In high school Vince and Amy were sweethearts, but they broke up near the end of senior year. Then, briefly, she dated John.
That is about all that needs to be revealed. There are a couple of surprises along the way and shocking revelations as it draws to a close.
Seeing as it's all dialogue and entirely takes place in one room, it's amazing how exciting and engrossing "Tape" is. You hang on every word that each character utters and eagerly anticipate where it is all going. No matter what you expect, you'll be wrong, and that's a good thing.
Each actor gets a juicy role and makes the most of it, but the standout is Hawke. In a bit of a departure, he is excellent as a slimy loser. Vince is far from admirable, but it's fun to watch him work. The actor is also surprisingly funny, generating a lot of laughs with his irreverent humor.
The decision to shoot in digital video was a good one, and the film's look perfectly matches its tone. It's grainy and claustrophobic, causing the viewer to feel as trapped as the characters.
It may feel like you're watching a play and not a movie, but if you crave good drama with top-notch writing and acting, "Tape" delivers and then some. It only plays here for a week. Don't pass it up.
"Tape" opened at Landmark's Oriental Theatre on Fri., Dec. 7. Click here for showtimes.
