Review of The Local

The Local (2008)
8/10
Dan Eberle is a Genius, Needs to Break Out Big Time
27 September 2009
A drug dealer who happens to be clean himself (Dan Eberle) roams around town on a variety of missions, finding himself getting into fights at every turn. One of his chief missions? Rescuing a heroin-addicted daughter for a concerned father... whose motives are unclear.

Let me lay this on the line: Dan Eberle is the man of the future for crime dramas. He has written and directed a film in the style of Guy Ritchie's "Snatch" and "Two Smoking Barrels" -- also producing and starring in it. When this disc arrived in my mail, I was unsure about it. I receive many low budget piles of rubbish. This one is by far the most professional independent film I've ever had the pleasure to review.

What really adds to "The Local" is the clear plot of a single protagonist, somewhat of an anti-hero. Ritchie's films are beautiful, and carry a lot of star power, but Eberle cuts through the tangled intertwining plots to deliver one distinct narrative. Yes, there are still multiple characters with multiple motives, which really adds to the story... but we never have to keep track of five different plots to make sure we understand where they lead.

You like drug dealer films? Mafia films? Gun fights? Fist fights? This has it all, in the grimy streets to rundown apartment complexes. Beautiful cinematography and a respectable score. There's no reason "The Local" couldn't have been released in theaters across the country. Believe me, I've seen a lot worse in the cinema. Do yourself a favor and get a copy of this film if you are into this sort of genre... "The Local" could be a cult favorite someday soon.
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