| BLACKTOP (2000) |
| CAST: Meat Loaf Aday, Kristin Davis, Lochlyn Munro, Victoria Pratt DIRECTOR: T.J. Scott SCREENPLAY: Kevin Lund and T.J. Scott Running Time: 100 Mins. Rated: R |
| Its been interesting seeing singer-turned-actor Meat Loaf Aday popping up more often in cinema. He's been quite good in the stuff I've watched him in so far and co-writer/director T.J. Scott made a perfect decision when using his talents for the leading role in "Blacktop," which he sinks his teeth into the part of. If you can throw out most logic out the window for the running length, "Blacktop" proves to be an exciting and often intense ride. Sylvia (Kristin Davis) has been hoping her comedian boyfriend David (Lochlyn Munro) would focus more on his commitment to her instead of spending time on his nightly comedy routines, where he has been trying to get noticed while making some quick cash. They both head out to a trucker town called Blacktop where David becomes a hit with a large crowd during a club performance. He even makes an agreement with the owner of the bar to perform some more gigs in the town, much to the dismay of Sylvia. Sylvia decides to ditch him and instead take a ride with a "friendly" trucker named Jack (Meat Loaf), who gives David a warning that doesn't rub off of him the right way. David finds himself back on the road trying his darndest to stop Jack and Sylvia, despite the cops giving him shit, and gets some assistance from a southern belle (Victoria Pratt) along the ride. While Sylvia immediately hits it off with Jack's seemingly good natured lifestyle, as their drive starts to progress, she soon discovers a more darker side to him and soon finds herself stuck in a rough situation she can't get out of. Alright, so the film is pretty implausible when you think about it and there's some questionable character motives in the film from both a hero and villain, but it's a little easy to ignore since Scott does a good job hooking you onto the storyline and it managed to keep me in suspense most of the way through. The silent moments are usually where the film works best, like a moment where Sylvia takes a shower in a motel room that echoes Hitchcock in its voyeuristic feel. Meat Loaf is no stranger to playing the part of a crazed trucker driver (watch him in "Black Dog" for a splendid over-the-top performance) and he brings a lot of depth to Jack. His character is nicely fleshed out and Loaf seems like he's having a blast in the part. A sequence in a bar midway through the movie where he encounters a group of rednecks messing around with Sylvia is a perfect example that shows the strength of Loaf in the part of Jack. Jack may seem like a nice enough guy, but is not someone you want to get personal with. Davis, best known for her work as Charlotte in "Sex and the City," is very easy on the eyes and does wonders with the part of Sylvia, displaying a considerable amount of strength and vulnerability in her role. I'm used to seeing Munro in comedy roles, so it was nice seeing him in a more serious role for a change, which he acquits himself quite convincingly in. Pratt, who has a cult following for her role of Sarge in the TV series "Cleopatra 2525," is in a smaller part, but won me over for the screentime she is given to work with her character. This is perfect late night entertainment to saddle up with some friends or one that you can put in as a stress-reliever, not requiring too much thought to get enjoyment out of. Its often action packed and creepy, moves at a quick enough pace and the storyline, despite being far-fetched in spots, managed to work for me. Rating: *** 1/2 out of ***** Review by Adam Eshack (c) - Review posted on 2/8/02 |
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