Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Better Luck Tomorrow

This is topic Better Luck Tomorrow in forum Film Handlers' Movie Reviews at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 04-27-2003, 11:24 AM:

In his followup to Shopping for Fangs, director Justin Lin brings us this low-budget but extremely well made look at a group of high achieving Asian teenagers in suburban Southern California.

Straight A's and pursuit of a good college are the main goal for their lives, but the boredom of structure lead them to a life of crime. Starting with selling cheat sheets for SATS, they soon migrate to drug dealing and more.

Are there consequences for their actions? Not in a legal sense, at least not shown in this film. But it does take its toll in the direction these kids' lives are headed. With one exception, parents are never brought into a discussion, and their influence seems to be a non-factor here (we never even see a parent, and only one or two "adults" for that matter).

A very likeable cast draws us to them even when we are shocked by a few outbursts of unexpected violence. The film is carefully ambiguous as to the nature of criminal tendencies (boredom, sure. Rebellious nature, of course). An activity that one doesn't have to include on a college application is the reason one character gives in his voice-over narration. This certain ammorality probably wouldn't make it through a script conference committee at a major studio today (although the film is presented by MTV and distributed by Paramount).

(Reviewed at Regal's Edwards Bakersfield 14, Bakersfield, CA, April 27, 2003).

Posted by Joe Beres (Member # 678) on 04-28-2003, 01:41 PM:

Nice review, Paul.

This movie isn't perfect, but it is really fantastic to see a film with a "minority" cast in which the fact that they are of a "non-white" race is not the main thrust of the movie or even a major plot point. I hope this film sets a trend in casting and filmmaking. The cast is really fantastic, especially the actors who played the lead characters, Ben and Virgil. I would highly recommend seeing and supporting this film.