Alex R. Johnson's Two Step is a meticulously crafted neo-noir which takes its time revealing itself to the viewer, relying heavily on its skilled direction and strong performances to set an uncomfortable, foreboding atmosphere of impending danger. Structurally, Two Step features a dual narrative centered around James, a teenager whose recently lost both of his parents and gone to live with his grandmother, and Webb, a malicious con artist, who has just been released from prison and owes the wrong people ten thousand dollars. Without going into much more detail, the narrative unfolds slowly, eventually finding these two characters violently colliding. The juxtaposition of these two characters is one of the film's most intriguing strengths, as both Webb and James are two characters who are very much alone in this world, each of which is dealing with their solitude in very different ways. While Webb is a mean-spirited character, the film manages to capture how similar these two characters are at times, with James having a support system that Webb simply does not have, almost as if the film wants to suggest how easily James could head down a similar path. Make no mistake, Webb is the main antagonist of this story, but the juxtaposition of these two characters provides an interesting layer of intrigue which keeps this dark noir interesting from start to finish. Two Step is a slow-brewing thriller with not a ton of action, but when it does come it's violent, jarring and resonant. The filmmakers shoot various scenes of violence in a very quick and merciless way, capturing the brutality in such a quick fashion that encapsulates how commonplace such brutality is in the world which Webb inhabits. James Landry Hébert's subtle and nuanced portrayal of Webb is the standout, exhibiting a quiet sense of menace. This is a character who is not the most menacing from a physical standpoint, but the longer he inhabits the screen, the more the viewer feels his unhinged nature and penchant for violence slowly bubbling to the surface of his psyche. While the performances are stellar, the thing that jumped out the most to me about Two Step is the craft and thoughtfulness of the filmmaking, as the filmmakers managed to create a foreboding sense of dread and despair that is prevalent from the opening frame. Through the use of slow-crawling camera movements, focus manipulation, and an eerily simplistic score, Two Steps creates a moody atmosphere of intrigue. Establishing shots are another major tool used by the filmmakers, as they not only capture the stagnant nature of the small-town setting but also aid in giving the film a darkly, melodic quality that doesn't let up until the last frame. Featuring impressively designed ambiance and strong performances all around, Alex R. Johnson's is an effectively made, slow-building neo-noir that's certainly worth a look.
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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