Movie Review: Ace Jackson is a Dead Man (2015; Full Circle Filmworks)

......in gangster flicks...for good or for bad, whether one like him or not...there's seems to be an undeniable appeal, in watching the little guy climb, or at least attempt to climb to the top. You don't necessarily root for the lil' bastard, because let's face it: crawling out of the gutter, onto the savage crime-laden  streets, and fighting tooth & nail for even the most minute crumb of respect, admiration and power...not to mention, the greed-driven acquisition of wealth...well, one of such reckless and unswerving determination of such things, might well be at his most dangerous...most despicable...most deadly. And yet, there's no denying that certain measure of appeal there, in the sense that...despite all the bumbling and mishaps...well, the little guy, damned if he doesn't try harder...not necessarily smarter. mind you, but yes, definitely harder...

...OK, so shady folk of this ilk isn't exactly a likable lot, in that respect, to say the least. You know 'em...the 'Junebugs', 'Rentons', 'Beaumonts', 'Pookies' and 'Mikey T's out there, just to name a few. However, one cannot help but appreciatively rally witness to the upstart's blindly unswerving tenacity...his determined attempt to rise above, break the waters, and hold his own...greed and power, being the base-instinctive driving forces...his resigning realization that he has to kowtow to some deeply instilled assholes, in an effort to prove his worth. And charisma, a ton of fly-by-the-seat-of-one's-pants luck, and...yeah, let's say it...balls, the size of cantaloupes...well, that's part of the charm, as well...



...and the theory is supposed to be that crime is the easy way to easy street?? Don't know about y'all, but it seems that success through crime doesn't seem all that far removed from doing things the 'clean' way, even if one does have the cahones to 'git a gat', and applicably use it...though, the former does require an abandonment of scruples, a lapse on conscience, as well as a victimizing 'if you're in my way...innocent or not, I don't care...you're going down' attitude (...but then, who's to judge, right?? These are fictional characters...and we're here for a movie review, not a lesson in morality, right?? SLAP...SLAP!!! Get things back on track, dammit, JB...)...

...and yet, even all that isn't enough to divert, for the those barely clinging to the lowest rung on the ladder, and despite those seemingly indomitable odds, the captivating allure of big money and big power...especially in the light of modern times, when achieving the so-called American dream, by way of legal and morally scrupulous means, has been deemed damn near impossible, and wrought with seemingly indomitable obstacles, is just too great, even for the dreaming bumblers...bumblers, who see crime as the easier way to the top...bumblers, not too quick to see that sometimes, in their fight for money, power and respect, they are their own obstacles, by virtue of their insecurities, their weaknesses, as well as forgetting that headlining cardinal rule of the street, Don't Trust Anyone...bumblers like...well, like Ace Jackson, for instance.....

...with the help of a sympathetic cousin (...though, not too sympathetic, mind you, for although he does feel sorry for the lad, and wants to help him out, he still tears him down at every opportunity, when they get together...an underlining 'family' attempt to harden him up, perhaps), Ace Jackson, one of a lower-rung class of hustler and pimp, is afforded a prime opportunity for responsibility, and to prove himself. Checking in with a local, inner city drug dealer...who has also long known Ace as being an irresponsible street punk buffoon...Ace's shakily confident and arrogant swagger is quickly cut down by the overly-tempered drug mogul, as he is reluctantly tasked with playing the role of courier for a large package of uncut cocaine. With the arrogant piss quickly knocked out of him, as well as shuddering threats of obliteration strewn his way, if he messes things up, Ace readily accepts the task, promising not to fail in the responsibility afforded him. And with tail tucked between legs, Ace goes on his not-so merry way...

...re-saddling his arrogantly confident swagger, Ace stops off at one of his regular 'ho' girlfriends, to bandstand and parade the responsible and respect-instilling 'errand' afforded him...and maybe, get an elating and celebrative 'piece', in the process. However, this gal...well, she just ain't having any of that, having long since monikered Ace as a shiftless, worthless and unsuccessful bum, no longer worth her time, and deemed doomed to failure in whatever he does. Go!! Out the door!! Don't come back, ya' here?? And so, with his swagger swiftly cut down to size, once again, Ace heads over to see one of his other girlfriends...herself, seemingly much more open and loving to Ace's charm and show-off savvy; after all, she's got him tapped for the occasional, sometimes reliable fix, and well...he's oh-so good at the lovin'. And so, after a scorching, sweat-drenching triste with the openly loving lass, Ace relegates her with his 'important' drug-courier task, swears her to absolute secrecy over the matter, and in trustingly leaving the cache of blow in her care...whooping about how all his problems are over, and he's headed to the big time...Ace heads out, to make other moves...

...but then, this ain't exactly Ozzie & Harriet, folks...and so, without missing a beat, this shifty and clearly opportunist gal...once Ace has bated a hasty retreat...quickly makes a phone call, scribbles a note on the mirror, packs a quick bag...including the drugs, of course...and WHOOSH!!! She's out the door, with intent of never to be seen again. Least to say, when Ace returns...hmmm, looking around...that's funny, she's not here...Oh, look!!! A note on the mirror...reading...reading...and well, wide-eyed in shock, there's a flush of rage, that washes over Ace's face...anger, then stark fear...and eventually...desperation, as he comes to realize that...well, he's dea-...NO-O-O!! Not quite...what to do, what to do...no drugs...no money...he's gonna kill me...gotta be a way out of this...gotta be a way.....

...ya' know?? In considering a character like Ace Jackson...deliciously, albeit despicably played by Sean Weathers, who is once again directing himself, as well...this reviewer cannot help but recall a poignant line in the 1997 bio-comedy, "Private Parts", which relegated the appeal and popularity of shock-jock Howard Stern. The line went something like, "...people love him, because they always tune into what he's gonna say next...and they hate him, because they always tune into what he's gonna say next..." In correlation to not being that far removed, most viewers might well be torn between being intrigued and repulsed by the lil' bastard, Ace; we're somewhat sympathetic to his position in life, his unswerving determination, and...to a small degree...understanding to why someone like him, would turn to crime, in order to make it...something that's further emphasized by director Weathers, in the form of narrative 'chapter breaks' between scenes, which exude scandalous, controversial and well-publicized quips of social injustice & unrest, corrupt business practices and governmental hypocrisy...the effect of which might give (...and for the record, that's 'give', not 'justify') cause for the most impressionably desperate, to do...well, to do some pretty desperate things...ruthless, heinous, unrelenting...as Ace most assuredly does, in the course of his...to put it mildly...rather grim, unfortunate and ultimately tragic turn of events...

...yet, leave us not forget about the overall appeal of ' the bad guy'...something that's prevalent in just about any film of this particular ilk. Let's face it: there's a certain and distinct appeal to watching 'bad guys', doing bad things...even to the extent of someone as bumbling and low on the status quo, as the Ace Jackson character, here. After all, the bad guys have almost always seemed to be much more vibrant, extrovert, barn-storming and sensationalist, than the good guys. Sometimes having a better time, too. Touching something deep down each of us...even by an independent film, like "Ace Jackson is a Dead Man"...some part of us that wants to be 'bad', and revel in that fantasy sense of 'badness'...though clearly, there's a certain and distinct point in this film (...or should I say 'points', especially in almost subliminal flashes of what appear to be gruesome crime photos of death, which play in Ace's mind...and our viewing 'pleasure'...as the pressure of his situation, before and after the cache of coke runs off, sets in), when ol' Ace...well, he just ain't having a good time, is he?? But then, hey...you gonna play around the fire, you better plan on possibly getting burnt, right??...

...and if this commentary, the performances of the players...some of which are played as exploitative, exaggerated and stereotypically over-the-top as possible (...point in case: let's face it...though Ace's hooker girlfriends might themselves come off as a bit scary, actor Adonis Williams' gangster drug dealer is a 'whoa' damn scary fellow, who would have just about anyone cowering), as well as this film's flavorful, albeit often-explored proceedings & reflections were the only things going, as far as "Ace Jackson is a Dead Man"...well, the film might well be worth a look, but ultimately, might just moniker the film as contrived and forgettable...

...however and fortunately, we're talking about a standard inner-city-atmospheric crime genre film concept, in the hands of director/writer Sean Weathers...and creatively, as refreshing and satisfying as it is, the proof is in the photography, the framing and the accenting of the film. In short, though hardly an observation of brevity, what makes things stand out here, is the unique filming style, bridled by Sean...not just in the sense that the film is done in film-noir-ish black and white, but the scenes of direct character play, are 'connected' by the Ace Jackson character, walking the streets...getting from place to place, from scene to scene...transiting moments, fettered by faux film scratches, glitches and grit...as if those moments were rendered on old, grainy, broken-down film stock. As if that wasn't enough, those moments are accented by some great, vinyl-record-scratchy, classic blues music pieces, so embraceably captivating to the ear, that they almost seem to remove the film from it's contemporary, inner-city-crime time period, and into another...

...all this, coupled with Sean Weathers' unabashed love and appreciation for late '50's/early-to-mid '60's softcore...much of which might nostalgically remind the more seasoned viewers of the more rarer and obscure cult films, the likes of Doris Wishman and Bettie Page, though done in a much more, for lack of a better term, 'erotically nasty' meld...and the sum total here, is one helluva flavorful, independently-produced slice of grim and gritty, inner-city crime, and the compelling sense of reckless desperation (...and filmmaker Sean definitely seems to like focusing on characters, in the throes of desperation) that occurs, when things in that venue go awry, as the result of succumbing to one's weaknesses, cowering to the whims of one's insecurities, and trusting the wrong people. Without a doubt, this is all reason enough to give "Ace Jackson is a Dead Man" a good run, as well as reason enough to check out more of Sean Weathers' stuff...some of which has been appreciatively reviewed, here at the 'Cheese (...see "Vault of Horror" and "Scumbag Hustler"). Don't hesitate to look this one up, folks...


 (Note: This viewer's appreciative opportunity to view and review this film, is in advance of it's eventual release on home video, which is reportedly to be accompanied by a number of classic, public domain gangster and caper films, including the 1976 Jack Palance-starring crime thriller, "Rulers of the City" (...under it's alternate title, "Mr. Scarface"), the crime-themed actioner, "The Death Collector" (...aka "Family Enforcer"), starring Joe Pesci, the deliciously grade 'Z' high school crime flick from 1960, called "High School Caesar"...plus a couple of associatively themed short films, "The Pimp Chronicles" and "Forgiveness"...all prime diversive viewing, for those in the mood for a banquet taste of the grimy, dark and shadowy criminal element, movie-wise...)...