A Pinteresque attempt at Long Island drama/fantasy has some very good dialogue, but not much else. The characters are paper thin and synthetic, the production values are minimalist, at best. and the acting is more wannabe Hollywood than the actual stage actors and actresses of Long Island that these people really are. Long Island, unfortunately, is not really a hotbed of film and film talent. It has good theater, and wonderful bands for Jones Beach, but the real grit needed for good films is just not there. Long Island films are always trying to be pithy, oh-so-sophisticated, and deeply philosophical, but usually wind up being cartoonish. There are exceptions, like LIE, but most flounder. By trying to get real and become a fantasy at the same time, a film producer achieves neither. This film falls into that category as well. With such good writing skill, however, there is always hope for a better product in the future.
Review of Simple Men
