Stuck

Stuck

source: Stuck

Just saw this movie at the AFI Dallas Film Festival (with star Stephen Rea and the scriptwriter in attendance), and it is excellent! When I read of the premise to the film, I HAD to see it - I was living in Fort Worth at the time of the real incident that inspired the film. Note that "Stuck" is not the true story, but instead a thriller that uses that story as a jumping-off point; as such, the film is free to diverge from that original truth to tell its own grisly and intriguingly moralistic tale. And it delivers the goods: it's suspenseful and believable throughout, with great work by both Stephen Rea and Mena Suvari, surprising plot twists, some REALLY painful stuff to watch (including a wicked girlfight scene and an oh-my-God scene involving a Pekinese dog), and the combination of bloody visuals and dark humor for which director Stuart Gordon is renowned. Kudos also for the sly opening credit sequence, with a profanity-laden rap track played over old people slowly taking drugs (their medications) in an old folks' home. This film is better than most Hollywood thrillers of recent times, and would make an excellent double-feature with "Misery". Highly recommended!

Mena Suvari plays Brandi,the overworked nurse's aid who,on the verge of a promotion,crosses the line when driving drunk and drugged after a night out partying she hits a homeless man(Stephen Rea)and ends up more concerned about her promotion than his life.Stuck in the windshield of her car badly injured homeless man is along for the ride as she drives home and parks the car in the garage with the hope that he will finally succumb to his injuries.Fantastic horror film from always reliable Stuart Gordon.The gore is quite disturbing with the emphasis on broken bones and physical pain.The story is well-constructed,the acting by Rea and Suvari is strong and there are several moments of black humour to relieve the tension.Very erotic sex scene with Mena Suvari too!

I thought I would give it ten minutes, no expectations whatsoever, but I found myself completely captivated after five minutes and I had an absolutely pure, simple movie experience, like movies are supposed to be. Simple plot, excellent acting, interesting yet plausible characters. Like a "Fargo" light. I read in a chat room that Mena Suvari's character was not believable, but I strongly disagree. One of the strengths of the movie was, that despite the lead character's horrid actions, she felt very real; a young, unintelligent woman, who completely lacked any understanding of true values, but who still was convincingly portrayed as a person with a warm heart and an appreciated colleague. I do not know how she pulls it off... just brilliant. Also Stephen Rea was great in every scene, but did not have a very challenging part to play. Not a single scene was too long or too short or unnecessary. Just an exquisite little piece! Truly enjoyable and disturbing!

STUCK is one of those films that creeps up on you, teases you into thinking a comedy is in the making, then slowly reveals itself as what seems to be an exposé of our current manner of getting through life, of competing in the workplace, and of self absorption to the point of endangering those around us. The fact that the film is based on a true story as adapted by director Stuart Gordon and transformed into a bitingly satirical screenplay by John Strysik increases the impact of this well-crafted little low budget film. Watch it once for the gritty content of the story, then watch it again to appreciate all of the very dark (and very pointed!) humor in what at first appears to be a grisly tale. Brandi Boski (Mena Suvari) works as a Nurse's Aid in a nursing home of senile elderly patients, giving some of the finest care for those entrusted to her talents. Brandi's compassionate work is noted by the supervisor Peterson (Carolyn Purdy-Gordon) who manages to trick Brandi into an even heavier work schedule by suggesting a raise in position. Excited about her possible promotion Brandi and her working partner Tanya (Rukiya Bernard) celebrate that evening with Brandi's boyfriend/drug supplier Rashid (Russell Hornsby) who gives Brandi a pill of Ecstasy and the mixture of the drug with the alcohol creates a mess of Brandi's mind. The parallel story involves one jobless Thomas Bardo (Stephen Rea) who lives in a tenement, is evicted because of past due rent, and becomes a street person, treated with cold (but satirical) mechanical responses at the Department of Unemployment. Left to sleep in the park he is befriended by another homeless person, given a shopping cart, and makes his way toward a midnight mission. Brandi * altered thought processes drives home, hits Thomas who comes sailing through her windshield badly injured, and out of fear and distress Brandi merely takes the 'stuck' Thomas home to park him in her garage, knowing that her boyfriend Rashid will help her. Thomas is conscious, unable to climb out of the glass of the crushed windshield and begs for help. How the stranded and injured Thomas is treated by the desperate but self-centered Brandi, by the frightened but macho Rashid, and by neighbors who fear intervention because of reporting an incident that would encourage police intervention and threaten their deportation as illegal immigrants results in an ending that shows how 'justice' can prevail! The cast is first rate - especially Rea, Suvari, Hornsby and Bernard. The direction is tight and maintains credible characters in incredible situations and holds the audience attention every moment. This is a fine example of how a low budget film, in the hands of pros, can be more successful that the big budget, less thoughtful movies that crowd our marquis. Grady Harp

Stuart Gordon made a masterpiece in Re-animator, and carved a career in the eighties out of schlock horror with a heavy foot in satire. In the nineties he managed to lose his way a little but the naughties has seen him experimenting with genres, providing his most interesting work to date. Edmond was a lurch to the left with Mamet's difficult play, but this film returns him to a genre he's more familiar with, yet the tone is firmly planted in reality. Some reviewers have suggested that Stuck is simply a thriller but I disagree. Certainly there is a grotesque sort of suspense, yet Gordon has managed to provide humanity to his victim, and show us the type of system that puts so many to the street. It also shows us how a relatively normal reaction of fear and shock can mislead even the most well meaning person into a situation which climbs out of control with devastating consequences. It will also reinforce the fact that we never know how people will react until placed into a difficult situation, ourselves included. The film never feels forced. You can believe that this actually happened, (based loosely on a true story) though this takes events to the extreme. Stephen Rea gives a constrained performance, (pun intended) as the proverbial bug. You'll feel his pain and scream for justice. I hope Stuart Gordon continues taking risks. His best work may be ahead of him.

There are other movies which kind of have the premise "One man stuck at the wrong place at the wrong time" ... this movie right here takes this to it's literal/origin meaning! And although the movie starts off very slow, it takes up "speed" (no pun intended) very fast! But back to the beginning. Which surprised me, because it started with a hip hop song in a hospital! I was surprised to see that, but it's nothing that should bother you. What could bother you though are some extreme scenes here, in this movie. I won't go into details, but if you're faint hearted, stay away from this! All the others can relish the movie and enjoy a very good suspenseful bloody movie!

Wow, I can't believe so many people found this movie to be some sort of comment on society or something else equally pretentious. This movie is a mess. First it starts out a bit like Crash with diverging story lines, then it's a drama, then about an hour in it's played for black humor, and finally it becomes a horror movie with a preposterous climax straight out of Fatal Attraction. Mira Sovari's character is at first presented as a bright, noble young woman, good at her job but soon becomes a shallow, selfish, heartless bitch. Did anyone else want to punch her when she kept insisting 'it's not my fault?" Of course it's your fault, you stupid cow. You're the one driving while high, you're the one not paying attention to the road. Suvari, who showed such promise in American Beauty, and co-produced here, doesn't really have the acting range to bring this character off. (BTW- what's with the hair?) Stephen Rea is adequate, his appearance and name give the movie some gravitas but the supporting cast are either stereotypes or wasted (in more ways than one.) Of course, one can read whatever they want into this movie, as they can with any movie. This one may appeal to some on the festival circuit but for others it's a very unpleasant experience that wears out its premise and welcome long before its brief 85 minute running time. There's nothing wrong with challenging movies or even ones as nasty and mean spirited as this one, but when pretension and cruelty take the place of plausible story telling and inappropriate humor, it borders on offensiveness.

It is sad that this movie avoids the truth of the events that occurred. It is understandable that writers and producers would take certain liberties with a factual situation but.... I am caused to wonder what the plot might have been if the driver of the vehicle was white rather than black and the victim was black rather than white? The victim's body was dumped in a park; a few months later the black nurse bragged about the event to a person with a conscience who reported the matter to the police. Those of us involved in this situation feel a deep sense of sadness that the life of the homeless victim was so callously ignored by the writers, producers and directors. Again, sad.