breaking glass pictures fully cements itself as the go-to source for all things indie film with the February 21, 2017 DVD release of the 2016 art-house drama "The Great & the Small." This, along with the recent (Unreal TV reviewed) breaking theatrical and DVD releases of "Sins of Our Youth," are great examples of the thoughtful and insightful character studies in the breaking library. They join the ranks of the plethora of sensitive thought-provoking indie gay-oriented dramas and edgy terrifically cheesy horror flicks that breaking makes available.
The festival love for this tale of hunky 26 year-old ex-con Nicholas Scott includes two Best American Independent Feature Awards at the 2016 Rainier Independent Film Festival. The online love includes a Seattle-based online retailer that shall remain shameless going through DVD copies like crazy.
The copious symbolism in this one begins with the title of the film being the same as the name of a children's book with a message that everyone is special. Deeper levels largely involve the manners in which the great and the small among us cope with various forms of difficult losses.
The audience meets Scott engaging in his daily routine at the home where he is squatting. We then learn that homeboy has no game when he experiences pre-coitus interruptus while visiting his baby momma.
The day of this great Scott continues with him getting a legitimate menial job with daddy figure/part-time burglar Richie, played with awesome British evil stoicisim by Ritchie Coster of "The Dark Knight."
The adventures of Scott next involve becoming a live-in manny for the baby from another daddy of the aforementioned ex, becoming involved in the post-trauma life of the woman who ends up with the baby of Scott, and returning to a life of petty crime at the urging of Richie.
The caretaker job puts Scott a the mercy of his ex-girlfriend and provides a good context for learning more about his early life. This scene-stealing actress gets the best moments in the film regarding giving Scott an awesome lesson on the importance of changing diapers and in another scene in which this woman on top takes on the role of the dude in a round of actual coitus interruptus.
A private investigator who takes on the case of one of the burgled homes adds a wonderful odd element that is reminiscent of the novels of off-kilter crime novelist Elmore Leonard.
These events prompt our hero to examine his life and that of those around him. His relationship with aforementioned adoptive mother Margaret is the most compelling/creepy aspect of the film. Their common bond creates a very its complicated situation.
Veteran indie film writer/director Dusty Bias puts his filmmaking skills to good use portraying all this. Just as this auteur skillfully uses symbols to add "Great" depth, he uses reveals to gradually show the full nature of Scott. A prime example of this is an early scene in which Richie is reviewing the job application of Scott. Richie calls this prospective hire on his nonsense regarding not putting his full name on the application. This leads to an amusing discussion regarding the response of Scott to being asked for his address.
More symbolism comes regarding this film coming out ahead of the Oscars. This film does not warrant giving either Bias or Scott potrayor Nick Fink the literal red-carpet treatment but does remind us of the good ole days of the '90s in which films such as "Great" were on cineplex marques right next to quality super hero blockbusters and comedies that actually had true humor.
The DVD extras consist of deleted scenes. One of the best of these true cutting-room floor wonders has Richie showing Scott tough love and other awesome support.
Anyone with questions or comments regarding "Great" is encouraged either to email me or to connect on Twitter via @tvdvdguy,
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