Wheels

Decent watch at best, probably won't watch again, and can't recommend people that watch this unless they're just into DJng and have run out of movies to watch involving DJing.

I have such mixed feelings about this movie. I honestly want to like it, having a sweet bundle of reconnection stories at its core, just presented in such an awful manner. I'm not saying that the "Poor DJ" angle was a bad choice, but it could have been done in a more positive light. Having it be a movie was more painful than funny when it came down to it.

The cast was actually pretty well selected, everyone hitting their marks, but I'm still not over it.

The story, the cast, the production, the general comedy are all fine, but for whatever reason, most of it just doesn't land.

This was an excellent movie, it captured New York in way that I haven't seen in a while. Beautiful story telling and excellent cinematography!

Wheels is fun escapism that displays the power of those dreams. The story is endearing, the characters are enjoyable, and their quests honest. Along with being a love letter, Wheels is a love story and a drama in pursuit of those dreams. Yet when reality hits - and it does - Wheels scrambles and the glossy edges of that dream fragment more than they should.

First-time feature film director Paul Starkman shoots his home of Brooklyn with the love of a son. The constant, anonymous traffic thrums in the background. The Bridge stands as a sentinel of strength and shadow. Graffiti tags the walls and trash builds in the alleys but the Starkman always points the camera up into the open sky. And does it all in gorgeous black-and-white.

Starkman definitely honors the light over the dark, giving his story a sheen and creates within Brooklyn a mythical presence. The magical fantasy built is too hyper real. For when the darkness eventually encroaches, such exploits are merely cliche instead of real and sad.

Starkman creates a beautiful world, even with some rough edges. His theme is one of promise but ironically such end up forgotten. The subplots build too quickly and unevenly with an unsatisfying closure.

Artistically, this is where Starkman seeks to make his mark. For the viewer, the abrupt ending is the dream interrupted by the pop of a needle skidding across the wrong track. That next jam might groove but is missing the previous beat.

The writing, cinematography, and acting are all masterful. There is a poetic majesty to this Brooklyn-made film.

Wheels is a love letter to the director's hometown and the people that grew up there. Starkman tells the story of Max, a boy with dreams as big as the city he lives in. Max's Brooklyn is full of down to earth characters with relatable struggles, and yet, shows us a world we've never seen before. While weaving beautiful cinematography and nuanced performances, Wheels reminds us that film can still deliver small stories with great impact.