A Simple Man. A Good Man. A Young Woman. A Kind Woman. It's 'Love & Other Crimes'

Dear Moviegoers,

The stranger who eats at a diner, on time, everyday. The waitress who works her shift, on time, everyday. Meet cutes over crappy pancakes and bacon turns to friendly chats over French fries. Then, before anyone can know it, a casual romance begins to blossom. It's a fairly standard trope for a boy meets girl meets love meets danger story, yes. And, for some movies, it's the one thing that works so well.

The short film Love & Other Crimes follows its borrowed narrative structure to a capital T, operating under the guise of a professionally-directed but perhaps first-made/first-released production. If this were right out of the film school gate, I'd be extremely impressed. I am extremely impressed, actually, if so to a tepid degree.

Beyond the loving setting of a mild-mannered diner, the twenty or so minute movie takes place in an alley, an apartment, and a detective interrogation room, where our protagonist goes over the circumstances of meeting his girlfriend and becoming a roommate to a crime syndicate leader.

Noah, played by Justin Slaughter (the highlight performance here), is an unemployed young black man who carries himself with realist optimism and stoic courage, whether its in asking a young waitress on a date or confronting a criminal kingpin. How that dynamic is laid out in relation to one another is what makes Love & Other Crimes a most interesting viewing choice. Give or take setting, give or take who Noah is talking to, are there really much dramatic differences in the conversations he's navigating? More than interesting, it's intriguing.

The interest and the intrigue stops in its tracks with the so-called criminal underworld that Noah is not really privy to in any direct way. He knows of something things, but is smart enough to not be involved other than in a living situation way. When revelations are made to his roommates, and decisions to turn action and potential tragedy, Love & Other Crimes goes from spin to expected, from interpretation to wholesale lifting. And, in the end, the flick only has enough surprises for half of its duration.

Love & Other Crimes could be a proof-of-concept short story, meant for bigger things at the end of its festival fun. If so, may its crew and cast find the legs to run and explore their tale of strength through steadfast convictions with a bolder vision and a fuller scope. As it is, only most of a movie is laid bare. I can't wait for a challenge that feels complete and confident. 2.5/5

Sincerely Yours in Moviegoing,

⚜️🍿

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