LAYIN’ LOW

Two unsuccessful childhood friends from Brooklyn are in trouble with both the police and the mafia. At the same time that they're trying to lay low, they each meet the girl of their dreams and find a possible way out of their dead-end lives.
After all the polished Hollywood college films of the 80's about school life, a bunch of films have come out depicting the confusion of these youths when their studies are over and they are expected to be adults.
It is in this independent tradition that ”Layin' Low” can be placed, but instead of portraying young people who don't know what to do with their lives, this film shows them ten years later. The film's lead character, despite being 33 years old, is still as lost as one can imagine he was when he first left school. He still lives at home, and hasn't found love or a job, and the only real difference is that he's older. This difference is,however, important, as it is more difficult to give a convincing portrayal of a confused 33 year-old than a confused 23 year-old. This is of crucial importance if a subtle comedy is to succeed.
This film passes this hurdle without difficulty, to a large extent because of the excellent performances. This can be seen not only in the unpeeled aesthetic, but also in the editing. The action is at the centre, and as long as this is working, the cameras keep rolling. This is particularly noticeable in the scene between Jeremy Piven and Edie Falco, already well known to Hal Hartley fans. The depiction of their love contains a spontaneity and an authenticity that warms the soul of the already smiling audience.
All the credit should not go to the actors, however. They get to perform in an environment created by the director and scriptwriter Leiner himself. He possesses a genuine feel for story telling. He skilfully weaves a story full of details and side figures, and plays with expectation and genre. Thus, the film flows with a naturalness as simple as a black and white photograph, and without effects Leiner tells a story that moves - and all this is accompanied by wonderful vibraphone jazz.
Björn Lekselius

Premiärstatus
Nordisk premiär: Medverkande
Jeremy Piven, Frank John Hughes: Producent
Nina Shiffman: Manus
Danny Leiner: Foto
Jim Denault: Musik
Evan Lurie: Talat språk
English