A very good drama with a heartbreaking storyline provides a showcase for its actors and a plum for the picking by moviegoers. It’s a trifecta of acting, direction and writing that work together bringing about a diverse slice of life that’s compelling and intriguing right up to the final moment. If you like a nicely paced film with a lot of taught hand wringing situations that take you deep within the characters, then Mobile Homes is for you.
Taking her young son Bone (Frank Oulton) to Children’s Aid, Ali (Imogen Poots), gets no help for short term Foster Care. Living day to day with Evan (Callum Turner), her estranged baby daddy has put her at odds with the world. Getting worthless parenting from the two Bone has had to keep up with a tough life participating in illegal drug sales and cockfighting. Ali’s needs are bent on shallow promises from Evan and avoiding the law has them moving from hotel rooms to vacant houses.
When Bone finds an empty mobile home to sleep in for the night following a close call with the police, Ali finds a doorway to a new life. So begins an almost perfect transition that leads to a finale that will have you gasping for air. Director and screenwriter Vladimir de Fontenay introduces his characters quickly with some cagey situations and petty crimes. He then shows how Ali and Bone mix with this life and are strapped to Evan without any kind of a normal future.
It’s a very good script with a heartbreaking slice of life that seems to have no chance for a transplant. He gives Imogen Poots a long leash to show Ali’s wild side mixed with the love for Bone. Not the best mom in the world, but she does put him first. She feeds off Evan’s promises and her cravings for his seething sexuality, but she finds it’s herself feeling guilty in the long run. One of her best performances she really brings her character home.
As the young boy who gets caught up in a life he doesn’t deserve, Frank Oulton does a good job of being the center of Ali’s life in spite of her failings. Trying to please everyone around him, Bone takes many chances so he can just be a boy on the brink of puberty. Giving in to some despicable deeds for a boy his age just to make both Ali and Evan extend his leash, Bone makes the film work in a big way. I’ll bet we see a lot more of him in the future.
Mobile Homes has not been rated by the MPAA, but contains sex, nudity, language, brutality and violence. Some of the scenes are very harsh so cautious when deciding to bring immature children to a showing.
FINAL ANALYSIS: One of the best drama’s this year. (4.5 out of 5 Stars)
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Imogen Poots, Callum Turner, Callum Keith Rennie, Frank Oulton
Directed and written by: Vladimir de Fontenay
Genre: Drama
MPAA Rating: Not Rated, contains
Running Time: 1 hr. 45 min.
Opening Date: November 16, 2018
Distributed by: Dark Star Pictures/Uncork’d Entertainment
Released in: Standard
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
