Gary Dretzka
Leonard Klady
David Poland
Ray Pride
Patricia Vidal

___________________________________

In the meantime, the great directing sample belongs to Scott Caan, whose debut film, Dallas 362 is one of the most skillful efforts you will ever see by a first-time director. He's not one of the world's great visualists. In fact, when he tries to do something visually clever, he usually overreaches. That is not his skill. His work with his actors - again, the only failure being an overreach with an overscreechy Selma Blair and her sidekick/boyfriend, whose name I would have if he were listed in the program book.

(Note: This reminds me of something I didn't write about The Human Stain, which is that there is no mention at all of ANY of the actors in the black/young section of the movie. What struck me about that is that the section that is really supposed to be the critical element of the story is so unsaleable that it didn't even make the festival book. That is a stain on the film and this mostly stainless festival.)

Caan delivers us the first Shawn Hatosy performance that explains why he keeps getting shots in movies. It's not that he's been bad before. But never special… until here. And here, he is strong and quirky and far more interesting than he has ever been before. And Caan does more than that. He gets a simple, clean and very effective performance out of Jeff Goldblum, the way we loved him before he got more ticky than Nic Cage in Matchstick Men. Kelly Lynch is right on target in her portrayal of a too young widow who is as much her son's friend as parent. And even though not being paid a lot of money or being hired to be naked, Ms. Lynch does an honest post-coital scene that isn't titillating or terribly tit aware at all, which is how it is in real life.

Caan's screenplay is some good, some not so good. But he is not dumb. And I would be happy to see him attached to any of the movies that studios can't get John Stockwell for. Caan has an eye for the youth culture that I only see when I go to certain hangouts where Caan also goes. His is the world of beer commercials and Fiona Apple videos… but it is real. And he doesn't get stupid or showy about it. He gives it to us warts and all.

This is a movie I will stop and watch when it eventually ends up on cable. It's not a great movie. But it could be the beginning of a very strong career behind the camera.

by David Poland

Dallas 362
__________

Director: Scott Caan
__________

Country: USA
Year: 2003
Time: 100 minutes

__________

Cast: Scott Caan, Shawn Hatosy,
Jeff Goldblum, Kelly Lynch,
Selma Blair, Heavy D
__________

Production Company: Dallas & Rusty Productions, LLC
Executive Producer: Brian Williamson, Beau Flynn
Producer: Kip Konwiser,
Gregory K. Sabatino
Screenplay: Scott Caan
Cinematography: Phil Parmet
Editor: Andy B.
Production Designer: Chuck Voelter
Sound: Pawel Wdowczak
Music: Jeff Rabham