There have a been a few good films about returning veterans from war, and now Least Among Saints can be added. The movie works with a story that covers the hurt and healing of those vets that have looked into the eyes of death and saw devastation yet received the chance to work at home on recovery. Now on DVD, the movie should be on the short list for drama lovers.
The movie starts with returning veteran Anthony Hayward (Martin Papazian) who has been haunted by his involvement of an incident that ended in tragedy for an Arab family. His first task on his arrival home is to sign the papers his wife filed to end their marriage. Months later we find him living in his deceased family’s house brooding over the past, antagonizing the police and making his devoice a difficult task for himself and his ex-wife.
While sitting on the couch that’s on his front lawn on day he sees his next door neighbor Cheryl (AJ Cook) being intimidated by her drug supplier. Anthony comes to her aid and becomes an introduction to the young woman and her son Wade (Tristan Lake Leabu) who has been neglected. Frantic, one evening Wade rushes over to Anthony’s house telling him that his mother is not breathing. Anthony realizes she has overdosed and rushes her to the local emergency room where she gets pronounced dead. Jolene (Laura San Giacomo) a social worker gets called by the hospital to assist Wade who has no living relatives. When Anthony realizes that the boy will be headed down a dead-end road in life he asks Jolene if he can care for the child. So starts a relationship of trust and transformation for both Anthony and Wade.
The film gets emotional and openly informative about returning veterans who have been damaged in mind and body during their tour of duty. Lost in trying to reenter their old lives, forget the ordeal they encountered and fit into a fast changing society, ex-military are finding it hard to exist on their return. Writer and director Martin Papazian brings his movie to the screen with a fine cast that’s able to aid in showing the pain and anguish that troubles these men who have protected America at its behest. Nicely written the story works well finding a healing point that this returning vet found by chance. Only a token to what can be done in a world where suffering for some actually begins at home.
The fine acting by Papazian, Giacano, Charles S. Dutton and Leabu keeps the story from becoming sappy or overly sentimental and features realistic situations. While Giancano’s social worker character does her best to cope with getting Wade settled in a foster home, she also believes that Anthony would make a good caretaker for the boy and uplift in his own life. Dutton plays a vet who has been able to pull himself up and become the local police chief. He keeps his character tough, but knows what Anthony is experiencing. It’s his past that stops him from adding more injury to a man who has stuck his neck out for America.
Putting his character in perspective newcomer in a central support role Tristan Lake Leabu shows the pain Wade experiences being the son of a junkie and bullied at school. He’s ready to reach out to anyone who can help his situation, but still bleeds from issues of trust and helplessness. When he finds someone who really believes in his plight, Wade releases his brooding in hopes of a better life.
Least Among Saints has been rated R by the MPAA for language, but also contains drug use and some adult situations. Be cautious when deciding to allow immature children see the film.
The movie does have some bonus features that are pretty good and best of all short and to the point:
- “From Script to Screen” Writer, actor and director Martin Papazian tells how he arrived at the story as a teen from actually having a neighbor boy suffering from neglect. He goes on to tell more of this relationship and how it leads to his writing the script. He also makes comments on his producers.
- “Veterans on ‘Least Among Saints’” Interviews with returning veterans that had attended a special screening of the film are featured.
- “The cast on Working with director Papazian” Dutton, Giacomo, Audrey Marie Anderson, Azura Skye, Cook and Lake all comment on Papazian’s direction and script.
- “Filmmaker Commentary” you can turn on the commentary and hear what Martin Papazian and Director of Photography Guy Skinner have to say about certain scenes and plot points.
The film quality is above average for DVD presentation, but increases using a Blu-ray player if you have one. I found some scenes to be a bit grainy and not as visually pleasing as I would have liked. That said, the movie filled my whole 16×9 screen with the 1:78 aspect ratio and for this I am thankful.
The sound quality using either the 5.1 Dolby Digital or the 2.0 Dolby Digital that’s offered comes across clear and clean. I found no distortion and all the dialogue can easily be understood. In some instances I could hear ambient sounds from the sides through by surround speakers.
Specifications and additional film information:
- Cast: Martin Papazian, Tristan Lake Leabu, Laura San Giacomo, AJ Cook, Azura Skye, Audrey Marie Anderson and Charles S. Dutton
- Directed and Written by: Martin Papazian
- MPAA Rating: R for language (Drug use, Adult situations)
- Genre: Drama
- Running Time: 1 hr 49 min
- Video Release Date: July 2, 3013
- Original Film Release Date: October 12, 2012
- Language: English
- Format: DVD
- Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
- Video: 16×9 1:78
- Subtitles: None
- Number of Discs: 1 Disc
- Distributed by: Vertical Distribution
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
