WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
Face the music. Is this not so often a phrase we hear when having to confront that which we don’t actually wish we had to? OR for that matter, having to stomach the thought of ACCEPTING facts we simply DON’T remotely desire to acknowledge or apply to ourselves. Sadly, in a world where all SHOULD truly be equal, there remains so many things presented as “the norm”, expected, demanded even, which have no mercy on those the ideas, and supposed “ideals” are aimed at. For successful modeling agent Peter Gibney (Timothy J. Cox), a moment of difficult, unavoidable choice has arrived when it comes to his longest standing client, model Hope Harmon (Paige Hoover), and the mutual prosperity they’ve shared for so many years. Can Peter AND Hope do precisely what each must to weather a coming storm, or allow it to consume them both and forever alter a treasured partnership?
Next, my Mind:
Image, misguided notions of perceived “perfection”, the fostering of inadequacy and insecurities, stereotyping, the building need to defy “the business”, and the potential danger of rifts in valued relationships vs. ongoing ambition or loss of achievement all get brought to the forefront through this new 12-minute indie short film from director/producer Maya Ahmed, writer/producer Timothy J. Cox, writer/producer/editor Paige Hoover, and cinematographer/editor Thomas Angeletti that paints the disheartening realities that exist in one of far too MANY arenas of the business world where people are ultimately nothing more than commodities to be marketed in a manner that becomes more consistently exploitive and disconnected FROM actuality, especially when “the standards” aren’t met by those the industry claims to not be able to continue without.
The specter of highly wished for opportunity and furthering of one’s career clashes subtly then resoundingly with relentlessly shallow mindsets and objectives through a narrative which sees an undeniably beautiful model anxiously awaiting her agent’s good news that may end up turning into anything but and the subsequent ramifications it could have on a long trusted connection. Similar in foundational principal to another project I reviewed in August 2023 called “Fat Girl“, it’s a commonly addressed and deeply necessary thematic exploration that films do SO well at showcasing when it comes to the entire concept of what IS considered (or again, SHOULD be) the very definition of REAL beauty vs. that which is fabricated or forced then illustrated as the benchmark to be attained and/or conformed to, more so in the entertainment and fashion realms.
What makes the narrative here definitively excel and have greater impact, at least for this critic, is the way it’s executed to bring this conflict of pure, selfless humanity vs. possibly damaging hubris down to earth and place it in the context of what needs to matter most in this world to begin with–people actually supporting and looking out for one another–even in spite of underlying desires to keep succeeding or instead suddenly deciding to toss aside the significance of friendship and mutually beneficial paths for the sake of one’s own aspirations that would then manifest at the EXPENSE of the other. BUT, this film also doesn’t shy away FROM conveying the latter’s lingering presence compounded by the personal upheaval, doubts, and overt disconcert which can arise from it between two people whose once solid trust is now in question.
And, let’s not forget the other cornerstone idea that cements so much of the themes together–it’s a cry ushering forth to just feel we have the freedom to BE who we ARE and that all which comes due to that, personally and professionally, WILL be enough. But, as the film’s second and third acts portray, how events turn out is both evident yet enigmatic, leaving certain final, key outcomes to conjecture while other elements are quite clear. There’s a palpable and completely apropos atmosphere of tension that simmers below the surface throughout the film, and it only makes the primary initiatives and messages the narrative brings to life all the more affecting and contemplatively relevant. It speaks to this overall day and age of print or online image having to be so “flawless” and that anything less is utterly unacceptable–unless you’re willing to comply. It feels like such a manipulation and relentlessly soulless attitude to possess. Yet, folks, it FLOURISHES.
As anyone who’s followed this critic’s work over many a year now knows without hesitancy, I RELISH any chances to watch and offer opinions on the work of such a highly accomplished and totally dogged actor I personally consider “indie film’s Richard Dreyfuss”, Timothy J. Cox. His consistent ability to deliver performances, whether complex or comical, subtle or forthright all carry an “everyman” credibility and grounded resolve, regardless of a given character’s, well, character. Here (once MORE!) is NO exception to a well-earned and established paradigm, as the actor brings his brand of emotionally-charged understatement and nuanced dramatic flair to his turn as Peter, a veteran modeling agent finding himself at a precarious crossroads of individual and joint success that is now being threatened by one “big fashion” house’s decision involving his star client.
Knowing full well BOTH sides of the proverbial coin that are in play, his good-natured heart and valid intentions also get put under the microscope in not so comfortable ways, and how Peter chooses to navigate this slippery slope is compelling and realistic, honest yet heartbreaking in its implied connotations, and could spell an end or shaky new start to his client’s own goals and dreams. It’s one of those performances that simply demonstrates our humanity in a way that’s relatable and distinctly thought-provoking, presented as Cox remains deftly astute at imparting thanks to his always morphing and ever-growing talents. All this praise, however, will not take away a thing from Hoover who gets her chances to shine in a different way and to equally superb effect via her role as Hope, a known name in the fashion business who’s on the cusp of her biggest break yet thanks to the stalwart support and efforts Peter has engaged in for her.
Yet, while on a current shoot that Peter has now shown up to to provide the word she’s been anticipating, what comes next will test the pair’s partnership to its limits and bring about a magnitude of frustrated and fully understandable defiance in Hope which could be the catalyst for continued trust or separation. I personally love how wonderfully uncomplicated in delivery and wholly believable Hoover is here, enacting the drastic degrees of sentimental and openly demonstrative facets the character is encountering but without doing so melodramatically, which I give total credit to Hoover for, as high emotion is NOT always so easy to show control and poise with. Hoover pulls it off wonderfully throughout. Primary supporting roles arrive through Joy Kapp as Meg, a business connection and friend of Peter’s who’s present on the shoot Hope is doing when he shows up to share the announcement, Ira Cross as “Lem” Griffith, Hope’s primary photographer and ardent supporter of her work, and Patrick Johnston as Danny, Hope’s rather (again, understandably) fervent husband who appears to not exactly be a all-encompassing FAN of Peter’s.
So, in total, “Hard Truths” is indie film once more accomplishing what it does best–bring pertinent, uncompromising, intelligently written, adeptly directed, NEEDED stories to the world in a way that almost always manages to discover a means to bestow its bold statements upon us with absolute potency while providing entertainment along the way and in short order, which is NO easy feat. May it be another effort that causes us to take a look at ourselves, how we view and interact with others, and ideally change the ideas of what TRUE beauty is, fight against perception, stand strong for YOU, and quite frankly conquer ignorance so that the hard truths depicted here will no longer BE considered as “it’s just the way it is”.
STAR RATING (out of 5):
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
