"Cordoba Nights" Review -- Written by Anthony Thurber

Cordoba Nights
Year: 2008
Directors: Luke Campbell, Andy Campbell
Stars: Raymond Turturro, Ashleigh Holeman, Duane Whitaker
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Compound Pictures
Running Time: 84 Mins
Official Website: http://www.cordobanights.com/




Finn is a pizza deliveryman who's bored every night delivering pizza in the crime-infested town of Bronston, Ohio, while listening to his old records. His boring job changes, when he meets Ally, who’s free spirited and has a lust for life attitude. Every thing seems perfect for him, but there’s one problem with the woman that he just meet. She is on the run from a gangster, who also is her boyfriend and his annoying henchmen that are looking for the both of them. Soon, Finn is caught in the middle of this squabble, which he might end up as one of his cold pizzas. The film also features appearances from Duane Whitaker (Pulp Fiction, Feast, Eddie Presley) Joe Estevez (Eddie Presley, Deathbed) and Toby Radloff (American Splendor).

Cordoba Night is one entertaining movie that contains fun and debauchery. This is film is definitely a step for Lake and Andy Campbell, who have been known for directing underground horror films, such as Midnight Skater and Poison Sweetheart (click here to read my review for that film). This time around they seemed more mature in every stage of filmmaking. They did a good job in capturing the sights of Cleveland, Ohio, as the background looked beautiful and added to the story. The Campbell brothers also knew how to balance the humor and action, as it didn’t get to one sided. Also, the acting seemed much better to the quality that makes films, like this very entertaining. They managed to also hone in, on the performance aspect then in their previous films, as it’s pays off, in a big way. The actors really took their role seriously. It didn’t feel like one of those film, where everyone is having fun and you the viewer are buying in to it, instead the performances feel realistic, so that you are interested in the story, in which the Campbell brothers are trying to tell. The brothers also spend time to making the tone of the performances, so that the viewer is interest.

The acting is one of the film’s strong points. Raymond Turturro gives a very good performance as Finn, the pizza delivery guy who is having one crazy night. I liked how, his performance was low keyed, as it helped sell the fact that his character is shy and soft spoken. His chemistry with his co-star Ashleigh Holeman was perfect. They both made the story very interesting every time that they were onscreen together, as they seemed to have that onscreen chemistry, which is needed for a film like this. The film also has some very good supporting performances from notable b-movie actors Duane Whitaker, who plays Finn’s boss and Joe Estevez, as the head of a mob family.

The screenplay written, by the Campbell Brothers and Cory Madiens really helps make this film’s thrill ride very enjoyable. The screenplay really keeps the action moving, as this is one of those films that you can need intelligent action to keep your interest. The humor is film was good, as it was dark while not getting too comical. I liked how they squarely focus on its main characters. The writers do that, so that you are interested in their adventure, as they had to run from a lot of people in the film. They also developed the relationship with its main characters very well. It made the adventure fun to watch, while not trying force a romantic relationship between the two. They made the subplots interesting with the gangsters trying to find the two main characters and the boss of the pizza parlor, who’s having a bad night all together. It helps add to the craziness, which this film has.

Cordoba Night is easily the best Campbell Brothers film. If they focus more on serious films like this, in the near future, then you might be hearing more from them, as they have the talent to be good directors. Cordoba Nights is a fun thrill ride through the streets of Ohio.

To purchase this film, you can visit the Compound Pictures website at http://www.compoundpictures.com/

Review Rating: 4 Stars