Stuck – DVD Review

Film, Reviews, Top Story

So films based on true stories can either be extremely entertaining or just incredibly boring. I mean come on, who wants to know about some incredibly dull people who have lives duller then our own? Still there are instances when the news just doesn’t tell us all we’d like to know about particular situations and we long for more. There comes the need for the “based on true events” phrase which puts a whole new level of seriousness to the film which we’re about to view. Yet one has to wonder why a filmmaker would take a rather serious, yet weird, incident and add a touch of humor to it. Should we make light of the situation because it was rather humorous, or should we take a deeper look at it and realize how intense it actually was? I like it when both sides are displayed for us to make our own informed decision.

Brandi is a bit of a gangstafied nurse’s aide at an old folks’ home that may not be overly pleased with her job, but she does it well. She takes it seriously and does the best possible job she can while also gaining a good reputation with the people she helps everyday. Her boss has taken notice of it too and is aiming to put Brandi in a new position where she will be the captain of all the nurses she currently works with. It’s a great opportunity and a promotion that Brandi can’t wait to jump right into since it is a big step up, but first a night of celebration is in order.

On the other side of the coin is Joe. His life is heading in the complete opposite direction of Brandi’s as he just can’t seem to find a job and now he’s being evicted from his tiny little apartment. Leaving with only what he could carry in his arms; Joe makes his way to the unemployment office were he is given the run-around as expected. Coming to grips with the fact that he is homeless; Joe tries to adjust to life on the streets and walking around with all his belongings in a shopping buggy. Things are not looking too bright. But just when Joe thinks can’t get any worse, into his life comes Brandi, but not in the way he would have hoped for. Brandi, high on ecstasy and trying to use her cell phone, slams right into Joe which gets him lodged into her car window. Knowing that seeking help for Joe will get her in serious trouble and probably arrested; Brandi merely drives him leaving him where he’s at. Now the trouble comes in…what does she do next?

You know, it isn’t often that I’m left somewhat speechless, but I kinda am here.

Stuck is based on incidents that happened back in 2001. I remember the story like it was yesterday, but a little research turned up an article on the actual happenings. Oddly enough a lot of the little details remained intact when they made the film. For instance, Brandi takes hits of ecstasy when at the club and that is why she “wasn’t in her right mind.” She seeks help from a friend of hers who suggests that they dump the guy’s body in the park in order to get rid of it. Little things like that keep the film as close to the truth as possible, but then the ending comes along and it was all changed from reality. I don’t understand why such lengths would be taken to keep the film and real events so close to the same; only to change everything when time comes to finish it all up. I’d say it’s to make it more interesting, but that isn’t the case. When all is said and done, the changes were made to make it a “feel good” ending. Blech.

Now looking at the main thing that works in the film and that’s Stephen Rea’s portrayal of Joe. It is absolutely amazing how much sorrow you’re going to feel for him throughout the duration of the film. There were times I questioned everything about my own life while watching Stuck. I wondered what it would be like to be unemployed for a long time, or suddenly homeless, or in great pain and not able to get a soul to help you. One particular moment sees Joe stuck in the window and desperately reaching for a cell phone. I just wanted to reach out and kick it into his grasp so that he could call the police and seek the help he needed so badly. He just makes his grief and suffering so believable and forces you to put yourself in his place.

The film is shown in 1.78:1 Anamorphic Widescreen and it almost has a made-for-television feel to it, but that’s not a bad thing. Colors look good and the nighttime scenes, of which there are a lot, look decent and everything can be seen clearly.

The film is heard in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and it does a decent enough job without any problems. All dialogue can be heard nicely and the music is never too loud even though the choice of tracks is rather odd.

Trailer


Little, hidden films like Stuck usually come out of nowhere and either rot on store shelves or to be passed on by word of mouth from person to person. This film ends up falling right into the middle of both of those categories. The reality of the freakish situation is insane because it is something you can’t ever imagine happening, but it did. It’d make for an intense and serious film that tests the strength of humanity and doing what is right versus being too scared to do anything. A wonderful story of self struggling that is done almost right here. The problem with Stuck is that it changed the ending to appeal to every crowd and it threw in a lot of unnecessary humor that wasn’t even remotely funny. I liked it, I really did. Director Stuart Gordon (which shocked me when I realized this was his work) did a great job of separating the characters into obvious victim and prime villains, but the true story itself is much better then what the script ended up being. Go for a rental here because it is something that everyone should see, but may not be worth a purchase especially since the trailer is the only special feature we get. Head on out and rent yourself a copy. Just don’t walk and try to avoid cell phone use while driving. Oh oh…and ecstasy too, yeah ecstasy.

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Image Entertainment presents Stuck. Directed by: Stuart Gordon. Starring: Mena Suvari, Stephen Rea, Russell Hornsby, and more. Written by: John Strysik & Stuart Gordon. Running time: 85 minutes. Rating: R. Released on DVD: October 14, 2008. Available at Amazon.