TRACERS

US, 2015, 94 Minutes, Colour.
Taylor Lautner, Marie Avgeropoulos Wallace, Adam Rayner, Rafi Gavron.
Directed by Daniel Benmayor.

Traces takes us initially into the activities of cycle deliveries in the streets of New York City – a subject of the Joseph Gordon-Levitt? Film, Premium Rush.

However, this film introduces the audience to the theme of Parkour. And it has some exhilarating sequences for younger audiences as well as older audiences, a group exhibiting the skills of moving through different buildings, roofs, scaling walls…

Taylor Lautner, famous for being the werewolf in the Twilight series, is an athlete who has had only moderate success in films, for example, Abduction. But, it is pointed out that he did all his stunt work for this film himself, quite amazing as it comes across on film.

He is in debt, becomes infatuated with the girl who destroyed his bike in an accident, meets the group who are skilled in Parkour and joins them for some criminal activity

Conventional material in itself but made more interesting because of the Parkour.


1. An action film for younger audiences? Parkour? The presence of Taylor Lautner and memories of Twilight? Action, robberies, romance…?

2. New York City, the emphasis on the streets and buildings, for bicycle deliveries, for Parkour activities? The action sequences, effects? The musical score?

3. The focus on Cam, his work, deliveries, speed and the touch of the reckless, the crash with Nicky, ruining his bike, wanting to give up, with his father’s car, the story of his father’s death, caring for his mother, taking up the loan, the bank foreclosing, the pressure on him to pay up, his inability to pay? His landlady, kind, his being broke, having to leave, the skateboarding? Her disappointment with him, wanting him to move?

4. The new bike, parking, its being stolen? Attraction to Nicky, her reserve?

5. Meeting the group, the different personalities, Dylan and his being indebted to Miller? His being accepted? Continued practice and improving skills?

6. His agreement to go in with the group, against the law, his skill in stealing the documents, escaping, disguise? The test, the shooting, his fleeing, his skill –
and their congratulating him for his skill and on passing the test?

7. His relationship with Nicky, her relationship with Miller, indebted to him after saving Dylan after the bashing, coming from Florida, her protecting her brother?

8. The Chinese, the loans, tough action – and Cam? The threats, taking his car?

9. The final set up, the Chinese, going against the rules and becoming involved in Chinatown? Cam agreeing to be in, the previous money and his paying his landlady, the gift of the skateboard, some of the money for the Chinese and paying his debt?

10. The detail of the crime, skills, the wrong information, the threats, the diamonds, the escape?

11. Miller, his background, an agent, corruption, his relationship with Nicky? Threats to Cam?

12. The diamonds, the Chinese Boss, her giving him a diamond, his possible future?