Deal of Fortune: Duke Attempts Neo-noir in Passionless Debut
Drug running is generally an unromantic career choice, at least up until the inevitable thrills to be gleaned when avoiding capture. It’s freely acknowledged by one of the ‘middle managers’ operating in actor Clark Duke’s directorial debut, Arkansas —a bored drug dealer is a lucky one. However, those invited to watch them might need a different angle to cement investment.
Based on a 2009 novel by Josh Brandon, Duke co-wrote, co-produced and co-starred in the project, which benefits greatly from a striking, even inspired supporting cast. However, at nearly two-hours running time with a narrative built on inertia mixed with significant chunks of flashback concerning a character we’re never properly introduced to until the third act, the potential energies of the written form get lost in its visual translation, making its rather simplistic story end up seeming unnecessarily convoluted.
Drug running is generally an unromantic career choice, at least up until the inevitable thrills to be gleaned when avoiding capture. It’s freely acknowledged by one of the ‘middle managers’ operating in actor Clark Duke’s directorial debut, Arkansas —a bored drug dealer is a lucky one. However, those invited to watch them might need a different angle to cement investment.
Based on a 2009 novel by Josh Brandon, Duke co-wrote, co-produced and co-starred in the project, which benefits greatly from a striking, even inspired supporting cast. However, at nearly two-hours running time with a narrative built on inertia mixed with significant chunks of flashback concerning a character we’re never properly introduced to until the third act, the potential energies of the written form get lost in its visual translation, making its rather simplistic story end up seeming unnecessarily convoluted.
- 5/8/2020
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
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