Anchorage
The American road movie gets a reworking in Scott Monahan’s ambitious first feature.
This enterprising piece is the work of two men, Scott Monahan and Dakota Loesch. Monahan is the director, Loesch the writer and both of them are seen on screen playing the brothers who are central here in what is virtually a two-hander. Jake (Monahan) is the younger brother of John (Loesch) and joins him on a trip of over four thousand miles as they leave Miami by car headed for Anchorage in Alaska. The film’s arresting first shots show Jake opening up the boot of the car and thus revealing that it is filled with teddy bears. These bears are stuffed with opioids and John's plan is to make big money in Anchorage where he believes that there is a huge demand for drugs and a limited number of sellers. As the couple drive off, the film itself takes to the road and asks us to accept it as a road movie in the tradition of Easy Rider, both works being reflective of their time.
Apparently shot over a mere five days and reliant on the acting rapport of Monahan and Loesch, Anchorage has the courage of its convictions, refuses to become overextended (it comes in at 80 minutes) and holds the interest even though it changes tone en route and is not without miscalculations. Initially it comes across as a tale seemingly aimed first and foremost at an audience ready to identify with Jake and John. What they are doing will itself arouse disapproval from some and so will the way in which they themselves indulge in drugs and alcohol during the journey. But many may well have a different attitude and even those who disapprove are likely to warm to the bond between them and to their sibling banter. Other factors also come into play in these early scenes: singing along to ‘The Battle Hymn of the Republic’ with disrespectful words captures a spirit of youthful rebellion and these two travellers lacking any adequate home of their own represent those on the margins of society. When they justify their plan by declaring "It's our turn to get rich” many a viewer will feel empathy.
However, as the drive continues, two things become apparent. First, that John in particular is more than a little unbalanced and is capable of violence and secondly that the America through which the brothers pass is characterised by derelict abodes which symbolise a country without hope. When ‘America The Beautiful’ is heard on the soundtrack the effect is ironic just as broadcasts on the car radio expressing religious views suggest a viewpoint that has no meaning in the lives of Jake and John. Indeed, the one touch that feels unconvincing initially is the fact that there is a copy of the bible on the dashboard of the car, but later when we discover what the bible actually contains it makes absolute sense.
Although the road movie is a genre which usually leaves you knowing what to expect, the ways in which Anchorage develops are often unexpected and this helps to hold the interest. The film also has the advantage of wide screen colour photography by Erin Naifej which contributes greatly to its atmosphere. However, there are some set-ups that are less than wholly convincing (one being a make-believe funeral in which the brothers take it in turn to give a eulogy about the other) and certain stylisations including some montage sequences seem out of place. Nor does the music score always seem apt. But, if the film is uneven, it is never less than interesting regardless of the fact that, despite some telling drama near the close, one is left not quite sure what Monahan and Loesch wanted us to make of Jake and John and of what happens to them.
MANSEL STIMPSON
Cast: Scott Monahan, Dakota Loesch, Christopher Corey Smith, Soren Royer-McHugh, Woodrow Curry, and the voices of Shelli Dolin Loesch and Caryn Dolin McShane.
Dir Scott Monahan, Pro Scott Monahan, Dakota Loesch, Gia Rigoli, Ethan Seneker and Taylor Harrington, Screenplay Dakota Loesch, Ph Erin Naifeh, Pro Des Perry Powell, Ed Spencer Showalter, Music Savannah Wheeler.
The Malt Shop/Charley-Bulldog Film Distribution.
80 mins. USA. 2021. US Rel: 16 June 2023. UK Rel: 1 September 2023. Cert. 15.
