Ever since he was little, Mickey Hardaway (played by Blake Hezekiah as a kid, Rashad Hunter as an adult) wanted to be an artist, and from early on it was clear he had a talent for it and was also willing to go the extra mile - but his father (David Chattam) stuck in the old days, is dead against sending his son to art school, which ultimately leads to a physical altercation between the two, and Mickey being thrown out of his parents' house. Ever since, Mickey's life had its ups and downs, sure he has finished art school and found a wonderful and supportive girlfriend in Grace (Ashley Parchment), but he also has to work two jobs to pay off his student loan. And when he finally finds a job as cartoonist, he has to find out his boss (Samuel Whitehill) is a scumbag trying to steal his work. This throws Mickey into depressions, so much so that he consults a psychiatrist (Stephen Cofield jr). But some issues go too deep and can't be resolved in one session a week ...

A film that's sure to strike a chord with anyone with creative ambitions in any artistic field, where throwbacks are really part of the routine and it takes quite a bit of resiliance to make it through. That said, the film's not at all a rehash of old clichés about an artist's life but more of a character study, showing its lead on a downward spiral that eventually spins out of control. And a strong ensemble cast and a subtle yet intimate directorial effort see to it that this story is brought to life rather beautifully, resulting in a very engaging and very worthwhile drama.

review © by Mike Haberfelner

 

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