Search - 10th and Wolf on DVD

Reality based, worth seeing

Pork Chop | Lisbon, Portugal | 07/10/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"10th and Wolf (2006) promises thrills and a story told in the first person,

concerning the ultra-dangerous living environment of those taking part in

the underworld, tempted by the millions of dollars in earnings from the import

of cocaine, and its distribution in night clubs; yet resolved in accepting the fate

reserved for those taking part in it: often a fast trip to the morgue, through gang

rivalry and jealousies.



One strength of this picture, is its consistent, calm, subtle, moody,

and nostalgic approach in laying out the point of view of the story teller,

concerning past life events. Although pigeon-holed mentally, as

a Marine veteran in terms of job skills, this might also stem somewhat from PTSD after

being released from service, from being user the pressure of being a paid

confidential informant for the government, based on an ease in approaching

childhood friends from the past, and capturing their dialog on tape, and relaying

news, plans, tactics from the underworld to the FBI, as hard evidence for use

in the courts against the gangs. As such, the realism is extreme, taking the

movie to the next level for viewers, who "buy into" the action.



Giovanni Ribisi, once again, (as in past films) does an outstanding job in

relaying to the audience, the psychological landscape of the gang leader,

who, as a third generation American, doesn't buy into the European - Sicilian

mob rules of his forefathers and rival in the city - not only culturally,

linguistically, - but also in not seeing past his own limitations. In fact, Ribisi

shows a leader fully conscious of his limited shelf life, so to speak,

in that operating environment, yet paradoxically is comforted and satisfied

with his modest ability to think things through, or the implications of certain

murders that are spontaneously and irrationally done, for trivial motives.



The film also builds a rapport with the audience, by recalling recent events (Desert

Storm deployment in the Middle East) as well as the mental conditioning that

is learned and stays with a person after they completed military training and also

after they have left active service. The "quid pro quo" as a survival mechanism is another

interesting theme in the work.



Overall, the picture is redeemed by its truth in face of brutal events

over the 90 minutes, such as multiple stabbings, stranglings, point blank

pistol executions, blood packs going off, guts spilling out, and a finale that has

a DOOM - style gaming sequence exceeding 10 minutes, along dark corridors.



Brian Dennehy is a plus to this picture, from his gravitas and clean cut look

in the FBI role, who admittedly, has to cross the line, into a grey area, to get

his job done, through the use of confidential informants, threats and more.



"You're up the creek, but maybe I've got a paddle for you!" he says.



The stigma of snitches, widely discussed among the encarcerated, is amply given

prominence, by Ribisi's torment in his own Father having been one, etc



Perhaps a weakness of this picture, is the suggestion that an individual having been shot

1 or 2 times, can still retain consciousness for 10 or 15 minutes longer, with no help,

and keep walking along, climbing stairs, moving - perhaps not quite rooted in reality,

or even, recovering from a blast to the stomach from a pistol, and other shots, in

separate events, with no repercussions.



Next, some eye candy is offered to the public, dancing girls manning the poles, bar

maids, drunks, bar fights, bouncers, the weakness in face of the need for sex,

plenty of inner city outdoor scenes, is shown.

further



The soundtrack is exactly as required, from its minimal role in the movie, further

emphasizing the subtlety of the picture, necessary to give meaning to other moments,

in terms of underlying feelings, emotions, human relationships, etc.



The filming is no-nonsense, excellent wide-screen and consistent high quality.



The acting, filming, the drawing of the audience into the action makes this DVD remarkable

and worth seeing, although James Marsden's acting might be an acquired taste, yet reminiscent

of the late Brad Davis."