directed by:
Jarrett Bryant written by: Jarrett Bryant genre: Drama |
And you thought you had a complex childhood! I know that was what I thought until I watched Sid and Maxie trying to navigate their life in the movie “Maxie.” If you need a little perspective, a reminder that you don’t have it half as bad as some other folks do, believe me when I tell ya, this film is ready to supply you with reasons to be grateful for all you have. It’s going to do that by showing you the opposite of what good fortune is, of course, but one way or the other, “Maxie” will have you thankful for the life you’re leading while also showing you how damn tough it can be when you’re at the lowest of low points with no hope ahead.
There are about a million different lessons that can be learned from a film like this. From the crucial importance of making the best choices you can in life to the destructive nature of what drugs can do to you - to issues of loneliness, homelessness, poverty, and more – “Maxie” is a master class on forcing us to take a long look at the dark side that we try to hide our eyes from and pretend doesn’t exist. Sid and Maxie are about as in love as two people in their situation, with the odds of life completely stacked against them at every moment - could possibly be. They fight, doubt each other & themselves, and make an overwhelming amount of bad decisions to survive. They steal, they scam, they endure abuse in a variety of ways, and they do their best to feed the monster of their addictions. To make matters worse, Maxie is having brutal hallucinations from his withdrawals that are making every attempt at kicking his habits impossible. It’s the classic line you remember from Jane’s Addiction’s massive breakthrough hit “Jane Says” – “I’m gonna kick tomorrow,” but tomorrow sadly never comes. In an effort to fill the void of our experience, we all too often decide to add the wrong ingredients to it. Soon enough, the two smooth and innocent faces that they see in the mirror have become pock-marked and damaged beyond repair by their drugs of choice, marred forever by the bad choices they’re making as they attempt to make their way into a murky adulthood. What will actually be shocking to a lot of folks watching “Maxie,” particularly the straight-edge crowd that has less experience with the drug-filled corners of life, is how much sweetness you’ll find. From Sid’s endearingly protective nature that looks out for Maxie’s mental health to Maxie’s well-intentioned ideas that are designed to make Sid’s life a little better than it was yesterday, to the sweetness you’ll find in scenes like what we see at the laundromat - the very day after one of their hardest nights – this movie shows us the heart of what true companionship is really all about, and how much we truly need it. We cheer for and hope that these two will somehow find their way, even while the pit of despair continually grows in our stomachs as we hold it - and watch Maxie and Sid stumble their way through life. Love can still exist in the darkest parts of our experiences. It’s what makes life still beautiful under the strangest of circumstances, and what makes it equally horrible in the sense that it doesn’t triumph over absolutely everything - like the Hallmark channel would love to have us believe. Writer/Director Jarrett Bryant seems to know this story inside & out, and he’s presented it to us with remarkable precision that can only come from really understanding what you’re writing about on a level that others never will. Incidentally, my wife and I recently spent time throughout Oregon over our vacation this spring – some of it to spend time there in Portland and other moments passing through places like Lincoln & Eugene, the latter of which is where “Maxie” takes place. Oregon has gotta be one of the most unique places you can ever go to, and at the same time, it’s very much like where I currently live outside of Vancouver in British Columbia. We actually share some of the most beautiful scenery on the west coast. What goes further to make us similar by comparison is that you’ll find some pockets of extreme wealth parked practically within a stone’s throw of extreme poverty – and to be honest, it’s not something that has ever made a whole lot of sense to me. We end up getting caught in this trap of knowing that we can’t help everyone all at once, so more often than not, we help no one at all, and potentially good people like Sid and Maxie slide right through the cracks of society without the assistance they need as a result. In some kind of just society, we’d see a much more balanced level of humanity and a whole lot more empathy shared between us all, but sadly, that’s not the world we’re living in, not now, not ever.
People like Sid & Maxie have the odds endlessly stacked against them, and unless we make an unexpected turn to drown along with them, chances are we’ll choose to save ourselves every single time instead. Some folks are arguably beyond saving. Maxie, in fact, seems like he’s determined to be one of those people - by fighting against a life that would have been easy in favour of getting high and going against the grain. If there’s one thing that Bryant does exceptionally well, it’s exposing the naivety of two kids on the cusp of adulthood who don’t have a grasp on how serious life can be at a moment’s notice. Towards the end of “Maxie,” you’ll see things shift, and the dangers increase, and you’ll be right there with them drinking in the park, wondering how much life they’ve really got left to live - or if their luck has finally run out. Both Sid (Liv Tavernier) and Maxie (Miles Dixon) are phenomenal characters that are all too real, and they’re played to perfection. While their characters might not be around forever, you can’t help but conclude that Tavernier and Dixon have incredibly bright futures ahead – they’ve put award-worthy performances into every scene of this movie, filled with all the kinds of detail and nuance that make for compelling characters. You’ll also meet a shady dude named Nathan (Malakhai Schnell) along the way, who also becomes an essential part of the storyline that Bryant crafted - and does an excellent job in a role that plays a major part of what you’ll see onscreen. There are a few other brief appearances by a small cast that all contribute something important along the way, but largely, this whole film rests squarely on the shoulders of Liv, Miles, and the profound competence of Jarrett Bryant. The finale of this movie will pretty much leave you speechless as things go from bad to worse. It’s exhausting to try and keep up with these two, and you can only imagine what it would be like to actually BE Sid and Maxie, day after day. That’s the luxury you have, and “Maxie” will have you appreciating the luck you’ve had in life, where you’re not out on the street hustling to simply stay alive each & every day. This was seriously entertaining and by no means an easy watch at the same time – honestly, that’s a stellar combination to create a memorable movie – “Maxie” earns a solid four stars out of five from me. |
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