SHIMMER LAKE
US, 2017, 83 minutes, Colour.
Benjamin Walker, Rainn Wilson, Stephanie Sigman, John Michael Higgins, Mark Rendall, Rob Corddrey, Ron Livingston, Wyatt Russell, Adam Pally, Matt Landry.
Directed by Oren Uziel.
This is quite an effective crime story. However, it is told in reverse, quite a different effect for the audience, knowing the ending but learning more and more about the characters, the events, the motivations as the reverse story is told day by day.
The film was written and directed by screenwriter Oren Uziel who has quite a range of writing credits.
The cast works quite well, not big names but significant character actors, especially Benjamin Walker as the upright sheriff of the town (and later Brent revelations), comedian Rainn Wilson as a criminal lawyer, John Michael Higgins as a judge, and Rob Corddrey and Ron Livingston as FBI agents who do not want to get involved in the case. Wyatt Russell is the central villain.
The film has the atmosphere of a small town, ordinary lives, the impact of the robbing of a bank, those involved, the motivations – and these made clear at the very end of the film, revealing the beginning of the plot.
1. The impact of the crime thriller? The narrative unfolding in reverse? Knowing the solution but the gradual buildup in reverse of how and why it happened?
2. The town, homes, the bank, the sheriff’s office, the roads, the lake? The musical score?
3. The narrative in order? The plan to rob the bank, Steph and her being part of the planning, with Ed, using Andy and Charlie? The background of Ed, drugs, the explosion, the death of his son, his lack of care for his son, the court case, buying off Andy, the short sentence? Steph and her resentment? Her continued involvement, playing the part, the shooting of Ed and her motivation? The rendezvous with Charlie, the hotel room, the judge and the machine gun and the death? Getting him to hide the money? Using Andy to get the money back? Her relationship with him? Meeting up, the consequences?
4. Andy, seeing him in the basement, with his daughter, the deception, his leaving, getting the money, shot? His role in the town, the law? His attitude towards his wife, spoiling his daughter? The participation in the robbery, bossing Charlie, ridiculing him for his stupidity? The robbery, being outside, hearing the shots, their driving away, held up by the police – but let go?
5. Charlie, friends with the group in the past, the brain limitations, slow? Participating, in the robbery, driving, the getaway, the rendezvous with Andy, the message from Steph, the hotel, the judge, Charlie being shot?
6. The judge, his reputation, married, bought for Ed’s case, the reason, the tapes, his homosexual liaison? Giving Ed the combination to the safe? Ed and his bungling it, Zeke helping him out? At home with his wife? With a lover, the lover in the bathroom, Andy coming in, to get the money, the confrontation and fight, the shooting? Andy unable to kill the young man, his naked escape (and seen by the FBI investigators, puzzled)?
7. Zeke, seeing him with the investigation, Reed as his partner, ordinary life, his comments about law and order in the town, working with the FBI agents? Avoiding his sister-in-law’s meals? Looking for his brother? The night of the robbery, his nonchalance, helping Ed with the safe, the confrontation with Ed, shooting him, the explanation about the boy, his relationship with Steph, shooting Ed? His work throughout the days – and the finale with Steph?
8. The FBI agents, the touch of Laurel and Hardy?
9. And his daughter, the secret, with Zeke, the jokes about the meals, Martha and her not believing anything about Andy?
10. How well would the narrative have worked if presented in chronological order?
