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Slingshot
By Frank Scheck
Bottom line: A gritty, downbeat drama.
NEW YORK -- A gritty, downbeat drama boasting an intelligent script and sensitive performances, director Jay Alaimo's feature debut is the sort of film destined for festival success and commercial obscurity. David Arquette and Balthazar Getty deliver compelling turns as two drifters who make their way conning gullible housewives until their partnership unravels when one of them makes the mistake of becoming emotionally involved. Having recently received its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, "Slingshot" should garner considerable interest for its director/co-screenwriter.
The story revolves around partners Taylor (Getty) and Ashley (Arquette), a pair of low-level grifters criss-crossing the country who wind up in the tony environs of Fairfield, Conn. There, at a children's hockey game, the former comes into contact with Karen (Julianna Margulies), a lonely housewife clearly unhappy in her marriage. The pair begin an affair, but Taylor finds himself in the awkward position of developing feelings for his guilt-ridden would-be mark, who soon breaks things off.
Things become even more complicated when Taylor finds himself attracted to Karen's beautiful and more age-appropriate young daughter April (Thora Birch). After they begin a relationship, April decides to join Taylor and Ashley on the road. The latter quickly becomes distraught over the interloper and takes extreme measures to prevent her from destroying the partnership.
Although the film is stronger on mood and character than plotting, director Alaimo successfully maintains a level of quiet tension and emotionalism that gives the material greater weight than it might normally have possessed. Beautifully photographed in 16mm and extremely well acted by all the principals (Margulies and Birch have also never looked more beautiful), "Slingshot" deserves wider exposure than it will probably receive.
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