ECHO BOOMERS
US, 2020, 93 minutes, Colour.
Patrick Schwarzenegger, Michael Shannon, Alex Pettyfer, Haley Law, Oliver Cooper, Gilles Geary, Jacob Alexander, Leslie Ann Warren.
Directed by Seth Savoy.
A drama for millennials. And not particularly flattering.
Patrick Schwarzenegger leads as a college graduate who discovers that he is in deep debt, joins a group of fellow graduates who indulge in robbing the rich to enrich themselves! However, they have a resentful, angry streak and destroy a lot of the property that they steal.
However, they link up with a dealer in stolen goods, played by Michael Shannon. The film shows a number of the robberies. However, there are personal conflicts, among friends, with a young girl who overdoses on cocaine, rivalries.
While the younger audience may identify with the characters, older audiences, interested in the work of Michael Shannon, may well find the behaviour and antics of the younger generation irritating and repelling.
While a lot of the behaviour goes beyond the pale, the hero is left stranded at the end – some conscience effect and giving himself up to the police.
- The title? The baby boomers and their prosperity? The millennials and issues of envy and comparisons? The clash? The wealthy exploiting, the millennials disrupting?
- Chicago, the city settings, the suburbs, the mansions, interiors? The headquarters for the trade? Clubs? Apartments? The musical score?
- The moral stances of the screenplay? Ethical issues? Information and statistics about wealth in the United States, the narrowing of wealth? Job opportunities, millennials and their education, lack of opportunity? Issues of resentment? Robbery, vandalism?
- The film opening in prison, the perspective on the flashbacks to the activity of the group? Lance, in prison, the interview with the journalist? Recurring throughout the film? His flashbacks, his voice-over narration, prospects, hopes, moral queries, surrendering, and willing to do this over again in a heartbeat?
- Lance and his story, coming to the city, meeting Jack? Accommodation? The offer of a job, no explanations? His meeting the group, playing cards, friendships? Ellis in charge?
- The planning of the raids, the insurance contact and giving information about homes, property? Mel and his being in charge, age and experience, stances, control over the group? Going on the raids, the masks, in broad daylight, the van and the changing signs, entering, collecting the art, the vandalism and smashing? Taking the art, wanting Lance to assess it? The payoffs? After the raids, together, the drinking, cards, gambling?
- The members of the group: Jack, enterprising, encouraging Lance, participating, his further plans, secrecy, wanting Lance to help? Involvement in the raids? Stewart and Chandler, motivations, Chandler driving, in the raids? Ellis, age, military background, leadership? Allie, her wealthy background, meals with her parents, friends from college, her relationship with Ellis? Participation, motivation? Relationship with Lance? Ellis and his jealousy, attacking Lance? Her drinking, driven to the hospital, her being dumped, Lance staying with her? Her wanting to give up?
- Tensions within the group? Allie not turning up, the decision not to do the raid? Mel and his reaction? The strong arm tactics and the tough observer? Mel and his reaction about the torn painting, wanting Lance to give advice in control? Allie and Lance turning the tables on Mel, his age, lack of achievement?
- The further planned raid, without Ellis? Persuading Stewart and Chandler? In the house, the safe, the money, Lance locking them in? The escape with the money? Jack and Lance driving away, Jack persuading Lance to rest, stealing the money and driving away?
- Lance giving himself up? Interviews? Stewart and his confessing, smaller sentence? The group in jail?
- Allie, the journalist, giving her interview? Stewart and the author and his confession and sentence?
- How did this film reflect attitudes in the US, wealthy Boomers and envious millennials?
