directed by:
Felix Igori Ramos written by: Felix Igori Ramos genre: Drama |
Frank is on the verge of the big-time. Essentially, he's a smart as a whip political commentator whose show - The Patriot is a reasonably successful and mostly respected political forum. Frank himself, however, is not a person you would look up to. He's a man struggling with many demons resulting in an addiction to alcohol, a distant relationship with his daughter, Elise, and even an affair - for which he was caught red-handed by his wife. On the other hand, his wife has cancer and spends the majority of this film in Frank and Elise's memories.
Struggling with suicidal thoughts, Frank's day has seemingly finally come. Presidential candidate and shoo-in Edward Ashe is going to be interviewed on Frank's show. Ashe is known for his crazy harsh views on politics and immigrants and is essentially a fill-in for former president Trump. This is not a man you want running a country, yet he seems to be in the lead. Frank agrees to an easy set of questions for the future president, much to his daughters' dismay, and prepares for the eventual interview. Only ... Frank knows this man must not become president and is losing hope that the public will also see things his way. Through depression, drinking, and attempts to reconnect with his daughter - Frank contemplates the ultimate act against another human being. Assassination. How will things play out? You'll just have to watch the film to find out. When it comes to the technical aspects of "In The Defense Against Tyranny," it won't take long to realize this is a micro-budget movie. It's a little contrasty or soft in places, and sometimes the audio isn't all that great. However, you shouldn't let that stop you from enjoying this feature because while it may be evident, the film doesn't have a six-hundred-million dollar budget that's offset from some truly excellent performances all around. Ramos has pieced together a film that is a perfect example of indie done right - and it didn't take long for me to become lost in the world of the film.
It's also pretty clear that the fictional characters in the movie are meant to represent the real-world stage - and I'm not writing about the best of politics either. There's a message here, and it's clear as a bell. But the best parts of this film involve the family dynamic and relationships within the movie. "In The Defense Against Tyranny" also excellently portrays the struggles within the mind. Now, with all that written, the film does lag from time to time - but by the time you really notice, you are again reeled back in with some excellent writing and performances. The truth is that if Ramos could have shaved ten or so minutes from the length, the pacing would have felt perfect. At the end of the day, "In The Defense Against Tyranny" was a well-written, excellently acted indie film that I am thankful to have had the pleasure to watch. This was a movie that embraced its indie, imperfect nature and came out shining on the other side. Those who see this flick will instantly recognize the political climate featured in this movie and the views of the filmmaker. Well done. Four stars and highly recommended. |