Review by JD Piche, SAG-AFTRA, Filmmaker, Producer, Writer: Follow on IG @Misadventur3r
When reviewing a first feature you have to take into account the budget, number of crew, and such and not detract too much from a score- it’s bound to be a unpolished cinematic experience, but you have to focus on what works- the honesty of the story, the truth of the vision. Rez Dogs isn’t a perfect film, there’s a few threads that don’t quite click, the actors also have an unpolished quality, in the written scenes, it does seem like they struggled with the dialog, Christian Young’s Rakeem, Jacob’s cousin and ostensibly little brother is immature and doesn’t know any better but tries to enjoy what they have, even when they are robbed and lose everything. Young isn’t hamming up being the funny friend- he’s just being him- a level of naturalistic acting that can’t be faked.
Owee Rae’s Zhonie, moves back to the Rez to take care of her alcoholic uncle and can’t find a job after going to college, like many of the NEAT Generation, prospects are limited, she gets a job at the local cinema, and helps the boys turn their food stall idea around. I want to hope for a happy ending version where Jacob never had the party that Zhonie walked in on and thought he was cheating on her, driving her into the arms of RezRhyme, Johnny, who was already established as a bad provider, because he follows his rap dreams at the expense of his family. He gets rapey and Uncle played by Zoel Zhonie, defends the niece he calls daughter, and is mortally wounded in the melee. Rae’s performance is admirable, she’s the emotional heart of the film and goes through the most, while she’s not tearing the wallpaper down, chewing the scenery in her dramatic moments, she has a calm strength.
Jacob Rozzi played by Kendrick Holmes, is a great protagonist, he is aimless until given aim, he’s not perfect but he works at it, when someone calls he answers, when he sees someone in need of a ride, he’ll pick them up. He’s a good guy, and Kendrick is that approachable kind of handsome that makes him easy to root for.
The pacing dips in the middle, but and audio is inconsistent but for the most part the sound works really well.
- Cinematography is serviceable, for a First Feature? Without a crew? The credits are, Steven Tallas – Director of Photography
- Darienne Nez – Assistant Director of Photography
- Johnny Police – Sound /Grip / Production assistant
- Emiliano Rodriguez- Crafty / Production Assistant, Rodriguez is also credited as “Token Extra” a cheeky nod to his film work, the rest of the actors are just listed as “countless Tuba City extras” show the “it takes a village” mentality for no-budget indie film making.
We’ve teamed up with Steven Tallas, and are giving away TWO copies of this film… all you have to do is to share and comment on our Facebook post to be eligible.
Probably shot on a mix of iPhone and a DSLR and maybe some prosumer level audio – it seems like there was a fair amount of Really good ADR, either that or Johnny Police did a great job with the sound.
I watched with headphones and it’s a better mix than a lot of similarly budgeted fare- leads me to believe Steven Tallas was familiar with Kevin Smith’s filmmaking tips, “shoddy camera work can be forgiven if the audio is really good”
And while I’d call most the cinematography far from shoddy, there’s an apparent sliding scale in the consistency – which adds to the film’s charm.
This is a phenomenal first feature, and Tallas’s nonchalance about “we just shot this over the weekend” is far too modest.
He shows real promise as a filmmaker and given a budget that can alleviate the responsibilities on his shoulders and ability to get the shots he wants, I’d buy a ticket for it right now.
And a copy of the soundtrack.
There are some absolutely great tracks and not the Needledrops you get from a studio film, these are refreshing and as with everything else in the film (likely) Reservation grown.
9/10
About Rez Dogs and Steven Tallas
Rez Dogs is a feature film, comedy/drama that was shot on the Navajo Nation in 4 days. It’s a coming to age story about a group of young Native Americans trying to figure out life outside of the reservation and everything in between. Come cry, laugh and cheer on as you follow the crazy cousins, Rez rhyme the rapper, zhonie the college prep girl, and of course the crazy uncle.
http://www.rezdogsmovie.com
https://www.facebook.com/rezdawgmovie
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5378186/
