WATCH THE FILM HERE
First, the Recap:
The lure of easy money. Heck, the lure of money, period. Everyone wants it, tries to find methods to get it, and sometimes, pay the real price for going about it the ways they do. When these opportunities come about, though, and you’re the one stuck watching others cashing in, it becomes an even bigger challenge and urge to make the attempt to grab your own piece of the pie, regardless of any risks. Such is the case for New Hampshire bar owner Ed (Curtis Lanciani) whose finances are less than stellar. In the aftermath of the 2008 mortgage crash, Ed and his wife Sue (Pam Dube) make a play to start selling real estate and make a killing.
Meanwhile, Ed’s friend Wedgie (Eric Laplante) also decides to make a financial gain via the local lawn care market. Soon, all three are soaring high on success, resting firmly on what they think is a non-breakable credit bubble. But, the reality of it all becomes abundantly clear as they suddenly come to the understanding the credit lines they’ve utilized, including Ed’s financed through a shady real estate developer, Al Deluxe (Jeff Paradis), are not all they’re built up to be. Soon, debt is mounting and the American Dream is turning into a wallet-breaking nightmare. With pressures being placed upon them on multiple fronts, it becomes about lessons learned about the dangers of overextending, scheming, and playing an unpredictable financial game that never promises wins.
Next, my Mind:
Directed by Michael Azevedo and written by younger brother Rob Azevedo (“Muddy”), this 30-minute independent short film effort concisely presents a more real world, small town look at the precariousness, instability, and often unforeseeable consequences that accompanied so many financial decisions for those trying to cash in on the massive financial crash back in 2008. With so many chances to get credit and earn large amounts of money off of the meltdown, it’s no surprise many jumped at the chance without at all thinking through the possible outcomes down the road, as at the time, it seemed there was no danger involved. Shot in locales around New Hampshire and Massachusetts, the film keeps its small town feel very well, hence making it more believable.
The film, in its simplicity and straight-forward execution, likewise delivers solid performances from its main leads. Lanciani effective plays Ed as a regular guy down on his financial luck, but still dedicated and hard working, who makes a choice that has farther reaching repercussions than he knows and also gets in over his head with the wrong people to ultimately achieve his success. Dube also plays her character of Ed’s wife, Sue, very well, showing us a woman who was tired as well of seeing and being around everyone else’s success while not having her own. Then she reaches that point until the real end results begin to show her a new reality. Laplante’s Wedgie very much embodies that same driven character who finds his road to success until things not only fall down, but also kick him when he’s there.
Fine supporting efforts from Paradis as the unscrupulous and greedy land developer, McQueen McKeever as a friend of Sue’s, Marieke Martin as one of Ed’s waitresses, and Dan Tully as an agent for the FBI all work to add needed elements to a greater, cautionary narrative about researching, thinking, and planning before you leap at the enticement of “easy” money. Overall, with only some harsh language to mildly muddy the waters, “Overdrawn” is a well-founded, credible film addressing a relevant theme in this current financial age.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
