RECALL

Canada, 2018, 73 minutes, Colour.
Michael James Regan, Tommy James Murphy, Louis di Bianco, Stefano Di Matteo.
Directed by Michael James Regan.

This is a small-budget better. It was made by friends, Michael James Regan directing, taking the chief role, cowriting the script with Tommy James Murphy who also stars, their producing and Regan editing.

The action has an American setting, a Mafia family has a cover of a restaurant planning a drug deal with African- Americans, an deal for $2 million. In the meantime, to stepbrothers have a conversation about robbing the money, one an addict who has been unreliable in the past, the other trying to build his life after death of his girlfriend. While he eventually agrees to participate in the robbery, the simple in plan with the addict being discovered by the dealers and distracting them while his stepbrother drives away with the cash.

Suspicions lead to a shootout. The Mafia boss is angry and determined to get his money back. The driver experiences a number of flashbacks, wants to know whether he should save his friend – but a recollection makes you realise that his friend shot his girlfriend.

1. Small budget thriller? Canadian film? Perspective on the US, Mafia families, drug dealers?

2. The American city, the streets, restaurants, the city ambience? The musical score?

3. The title, Mikey and Dale, the memories, resentments, the final moments and Mikey’s recall about his wife’s death?

4. The criminal family, gathering for the meal, the 2 million drug deal, working outside the family? The patriarch, his control, members of the family? His conversation with his grandson, mistrust? The scenes of the deal, the African-Americans?, being considered Jamaican, mutual suspicions? Dale’s presence, the overt suspicions, the shootings? Mikey stealing the money, the patriarch and his anger, interrogating Dale, taking him to the house, the phone calls from Mikey, Mikey not keeping his appointment?

5. Dale, wandering the city? His girlfriend at the bar? Summoning Mikey, stepbrothers, the past deals, Dale on the drugs, Mikey and his disappointment, resentments? Not wanting to go on the robbery? Dale and his pressure? Mikey and his agreement?

6. Mikey, talking with his father, the pregnancy, his disappointment? Alone,his memories, buying the engagement ring, the photo of his girlfriend, the memories, her being shot? The end and his recognising the mask?

7. The conversations of the planning, a seemingly futile plan, yet Dale entering, distracting the family, Mikey taking the money? The phone calls? Mikey under threat? The dilemma about leaving Dale on not? The mask, is memories, Dale killing?

8. The members of the Mob, their personalities, the cover of the garage, the restaurant, mutual taunts, aptitudes and ineptness?

9. A small variation on Mafia themes?