King of Herrings (2014)

The makers of this film suffered from many misunderstandings. To identify a few for them, filming in black and white doesn't make you an auteur (and it makes a plot mystifying when one character is referred to, for over an hour, simply as "the redhead"); casting character actors as leads doesn't always make them good enough to carry the larger role; long pauses in conversations do not make that conversation meaningful; and working without a script does not inspire brilliance. OK, I'm guessing on that last point, but it sure seems like no one knew their lines. Oh, and lens flare isn't an especially good look in black and white. In sum, a pretentious, vapid, poorly constructed story.

First, let's get the black and white choice out of the way; it obviously was brilliant. The textured, earthy context is vital as a sort of expository casing for the story. Color would've all but obliterated the characters; they'd have been absorbed by their surroundings, rather than growing out of them, as they do. Monochrome manages to supply their backstories in a completely visual, pervasive manner. It's the sort of choice that prompted me to mention after I'd seen the trailer, Behind the Scenes, and the other clips that it reminded me of Cassavetes, Falk and Gazzara during their early work together: filmmaking with an emphasis on the film. The story, I think, treads a rather gracefully drawn line through rough-edged ironic humor, frustration, almost accidental cruelty, the wish for some kind of tenderness or simple meaning, and the nearly abandoned hopes for love. These people have lost their direction, but they still seem to think there's a path to find. That seems to emerge for each of the characters at various moments, and to be guided by different impulses. It's very intriguing that, despite the serious flaws in Eddie Jemison's lead character Ditch, the only really reprehensible of the four men is Art, the guy Ditch supposedly has wronged. The characters all are thoroughly nuanced and intricate; they bring a compelling urgency to a set of potentially mundane situations. Intriguing as they are, though, they're only one part of the film's subtle fabric.Roughness and cruelty among the four central characters masks a deeply vulnerable core that becomes most evident in Ditch and his pal Gat. The two guys only can express their fears and insecurities to each other, not because of some illusory macho "bonding," but because of their lifelong knowledge of each other; they have no secrets, no need to protect themselves. It's not a "buddy flick;" it's a film about the fragility of humanity and fate of love in a world that marginalizes hope. Gat shows that, instead, the knowledge fosters a visceral, instinctive drive to protect each other, as well as themselves. Both Jemison as Ditch and David Jensen as Gat pick up the excellent script and carry it into completely believable and recognizable characters. Anyone used to Jemison's more frequent comic roles will be gripped by the troubled, incendiary, self-destructive character that he brings to life in Ditch. Anyone who's been watching him closely, however, will see this as the realization of his skill in treading the edge between comic and desperate. Here, he shows serious chops and takes a walk on the bleak side. In the process, he shows his considerable range, bringing in the comic to heighten Ditch's underlying rage and desperation. As his partner Gat, Jensen brings together a personal despondency, lingering optimism, a bruised sweetness, and a startling turn for rage. They both believe they're worthless, but manage to hold each other upright. To a point.All of the male characters' defensive reactions to their haunting sense of inadequacy reach a destructive peak in Ditch and Gat's inability to connect meaningfully with their wives, with women in general. The essential fear of rejection, of discovery, that has shadowed their lives has made them fearful of those they need the most. Ironically, it's those fears that ultimately contaminate and destroy the relationships that mean the most to them. This film is filled with irony, all of it subtle and all of it crucial to the narrative; even the title carries a multi-level, pivotal irony.Thankfully, the guy-driven narrative doesn't strand or omit female characters, though the script rather elegantly sets up that expectation before pulling the rug. Both women stand on their own as deceptively nuanced personalities. In her brief appearances as Ditch's sister Evie, Andrea Frankle's restrained but focused portrayal suggests a backstory worth telling and, most importantly, her attraction to the shop-worn Gat becomes perfectly reasonable. But it's Laura Lamson's embodiment of Ditch's wife, Mary, that rounds out the film's characters with a multi-textured rendering that spins from tragic naiveté to fragility, then surprises with an eruption of assertiveness and acuity, demonstrating Mary's depth and complexity, shifting her from pathetic to almost majestically tragic. The effect is enhanced by Lamson's transitions, razor sharp, but so smooth that they're believable even as they catch the viewer off guard. In fairness, all of the characters develop surprising depth; there's just not enough room here. Even the worst of the lot, the somewhat loathsome Arthur, neatly articulated by Joe Chrest, may not be excusable, but his pointless deceitfulness, his almost cheerful underhandedness, still subtly conveys the disappointment and sense of inadequacy that afflicts them all. And it must be said that Wayne Pére's sensitive depiction of the damaged Leon shows him as both tender and potentially dangerous.All of this derives from an intricate, multifaceted script, of course, though it's difficult to see the division between that, the performances, and the strong, insightful direction. This could be lots longer; there's more to say. In the end, I have to return to the riff on Cassavetes, Falk, and Gazzara. That seems a bit effete, perhaps, but not when it produces this sort of harsh, delicate, angry, almost tender filmmaking.

I was lucky enough to see the screening of this film, and it was quite powerful. The script, the actors and their performances, the photography, and the locations were perfect. "King of Herrings" is quite simple, yet incredibly powerful and thought provoking, bringing you intimately into their world and lives for a few days. Shooting it in black and white was brilliant, keeping you involved in the characters, and the locations, without any distractions. I think everyone involved in creating "King of Herrings", are long time friends, and the relationships between the actors are very honest and real, making it feel like you are hanging out with a group of friends.. even saying "no, don't do that".. forgetting you are watching a film. It is very well written, making you laugh, think, and almost cry. That makes it a "10" for me!

King of Herrings is a wonderful film. It speaks to a way of life in New Orleans, to anyone who has lived with the same group of people for many years only to find you don't like them all, to anyone who has hoped for rescue only to find that they must rescue themselves.When you look into the world of King of Herrings, you see characters that have fallen into painful rhythms, hurtful, manipulative relationships, and petty oneupmanship. And yet some of these beautifully rendered characters still strive to reach beyond the limits of their day to day existence and make good on their dreams.The characters are each brought to life in performances that are visceral and truthful. Some content with their way of life an others hoping for a change that will make their life somehow better. The story follows the characters as they go about their lives over several days, and through events and interactions that will impact their lives going forward.The actors have been friends for more that twenty years, and their on-screen chemistry comes from a genuine friendship and rapport. This charm is evident from the first frame and through to the end.It is the winner of the Audience Favorite Narrative Film at the New Orleans Film Festival, and I was fortunate to have seen it there. I have to recommend this film to anyone who loves film.