Save Yourself

As I continue down an Allen C. Gardner rabbit hole, here, in his sixth writing effort (on his way to make the film that put him on my streaming radar, the pretty fine Cold Feet) he takes it back to square one, if you will, of his first film . . . Act One: keeping it simple and to the point with a small cast and not to many set ups to keep down the budget. That, however, in no way diminishes the film is well-shot and directed.

In this throwback to the Miramax/Fox Searchlight '90s, we have a simple, yet effective character study about Jason: an actor coming to grips with his own maturity. The catalyst of his personal growth is the no B. S Amy (Kelsey Gunn): a burnt-out A&R record executive.

After meeting at a house party via Jason's lame, called-out pick-up by Amy, each come to examine their place in the arts and the hardships that face both actors and musicians. If you've struggled in either profession, you'll relate to the characters and the story.