This boding film, Tomorrow You’re Gone has all the trappings of a David Lynch movie, but with a routine resolve. Not for everyone, the movie’s disturbing and daunting with a sordid tale of crime and decadence. If you like bizarre movies that challenge your psyche with a simple storyline created for a small ensemble cast, this little jewel will test your interpretation.
The movie centers on Charlie Rankin (Stephen Dorff) who’s about to be released from prison after serving a four year term when he receives a coded note from The Buddha (Willem Dafoe) telling him he hasn’t completed a job for him. Since Charlie’s the kind of guy who finishes the job he starts, he returns to the city where it all happened. The Buddha has set him up in a safe house and gives him a key to a bus terminal storage locker. On the way back from picking up a bag, he meets Florence (Michelle Monaghan) a lonely woman who thinks she has tagged a chance to put some spark in her down trodden life.
The mix of characters is very good, but the story tries too hard to be a film noir that excites and disturbs. Much like David Lynch’s Lost Highway, the movie tends to go nowhere and the wait to figure it all out doesn’t have a big enough payoff to deliver a good show. The surprises are predictable and the script really doesn’t allow for any outstanding performances. Both Dorff and Monaghan are just pawns in a chess match that ends in a stalemate.
I could go on about the film, but it really doesn’t need any more criticism. There is an upside to the film with its extremely good cinematography by Michael Fimognari who keeps his camera tight on his subjects in dark dank rooms, a cell and a grimy bar. He lifts his camera for a look at hope between Charlie and Florence giving a respite to the very gloomy movie. In addition, the soundtrack lends a hand adding a boding feel to the plot that does help the story giving it a film noir feel.
Tomorrow You’re Gone has been not been rated by the MPAA but contains violence, language, drug use and sexuality.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A film noir that never rises to its intended audience.[rating=3]
Additional Film Information:
- Cast: Stephen Dorff, Michelle Monaghan and Willem Dafoe
- Directed by: David Jacobson
- Genre: Film Noir, Crime. Drama
- MPAA Rating: Unrated
- Running Time: 1 hr 33 min
- Opening Date: April 5, 2013
- Distributed by: Echo Bridge Entertainment
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
