Michael Larnell's Cronies tells the story of Louis and Jack, two young African American men who have been friend's since childhood, growing up in a low income neighborhood in the heart of St. Louis, Missouri. Now 22 years old, Louis works at a car dealership, doing his best to provide for his young daughter and girlfriend. Louis' newfound responsibility is increasingly putting him at odds with Jack, who continues to live a much more unhinged lifestyle, chasing skirts and having a general anger at the world he inhabits. Jack is threatened by Louis' new friendship with Andrew, a young, Caucasian man he knows from his job, and Cronies follows a day in the life with these three individuals, delivering both a poignant portrait of friendship and a nuanced examination of the inner city environment. The narrative of Cronies is ingenius, presenting itself as a faux-documentary that jumps between the day-in-the-life main narrative and in-person interviews, a gimmick that only increases the general authenticity of the film while also providing a unique ability to provide further insights into these three characters. One thing that really struck me about Cronies is just how subtle and assured it is, as many film's dealing with similar subject matters can sometimes be too forceful in their portrayal of the rough environment they inhabit. Cronies focuses more of the strained relationship, using Jack and Louis story to present a vivid portrait of this small, impoverished neighhorhood. The sense of hopelessness, an important aspect of any film about this environment, doesn't outright consume the viewer, instead slowly revealing itself as the film progresses. There is an undercurrent of animosity between Jack and Louis, that is somewhat restrained due to their longterm friendship, and the way Cronies explores this dynamic is one of it's most interesting attributes. While Jack views Louis newfound friendship as yet another straw in what he perceives as Jack abandoning him, Louis grows further agitated by Jack's inability to grow up, which routinely puts the two at odds. I particularly liked the dichotomy which the film is able to create between Jack and Andrew, each representing different forces in Louis' life that are pulling him in opposite directions. At it's core, Cronies is simultaneously a beautiful ode to friendship but also a film that perfectly captures the environment of it's characters, delivering a fresh, honest, poignant, and funny portrait of inner city culture.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
|