I’m generally not a fan of dramas… they tend to bore me. That’s why 80% of the stuff I’ve reviewed on this site is horror, sci-fi, and action stuff. For as big of a non-fan of dramas as I am, I’m even less of a fan of indie dramas. Nothing is worse than sitting there watching some dude record his friends and family laughing and crying and calling it a movie. With all that being said, Bay State Blues is one of the exceptions to the rule. This film is expertly crafted, full of powerful yet subtle emotional interplay, and despite the fact that there are no aliens or brutal murders, still satisfies the moviefan.

The film is a slice of life tail that is so recognizable it’s almost scary… and I’ll just leave it at that, because to detail the plot in any way would be to rob the film of its basic splendid-ness as it unfurls before the viewer. The people in Bay State Blues are not rich fucks with problems. They aren’t dealing with terminal illnesses. They aren’t burdened with the hell of children. These are people, real fucking people (played by actors) who are as recognizable as the dude across the street who likes to work on cars, or the chick next door who always comes home with a bottle of wine. This is Americana… from every angle. Sad, melancholy, joyful, you name it, Bay State Blues covers every piece of emotional territory while remaining true to the characters and true to the people watching the film. It’s actually a pretty remarkable achievement on a budget of 18 grand.

Most of this is due to two things: director Mark Lewis and actor Scott Lewis. Mark Lewis has an excellent grasp of the human condition and he does a wonderful job of subtly communicating that understanding without coming off as melodramatic or heavy-handed. Scott Lewis is a picture of standard-issue manliness in the role of Mike. Together these two craft an awesome film rippling with contemporary dysfunctionality… but that’s ok, because in this day and age, a family that doesn’t have some measure of weirdness and drama in it is something of an oddity.

As a director, Mark Lewis is a little raw. Most of the shots in the film are handheld and in your face, which gives you a level of intimacy with the characters that can sometimes be uncomfortable. At times, the in-your-face close-ups can be a little too extreme, and during the latter half of the film, when things get emotional and out of hand, it would have been nice to pull back a little bit and give an idea of the total scope of the situation rather than just sitting there counting the boogers in some of the actors’ noses. But the most appreciated aspect of Lewis’ efforts is the fact that he manipulates and manages everything so damn nicely. The movie flows, it makes sense, and all the things that come to fruition in the films climactic half-hour are deftly hinted at throughout the movie. For such a small production, Mark Lewis’ film feels like it was made with way more money and way more time… and that is the true mark of a successful indie director.

The biggest spot where the budget rears its head is in the acting department… and even then it’s not all that bad. Scott Lewis is fine as Mike, the male head of the family. He oozes a good-natured and well-meaning machismo that provides for moments of levity and deep heartache. He is by far the best of the bunch. The female leads in the movie are all hit or miss… with the biggest miss going to Allyson Sereboff as Mike’s wife Devon. Sereboff is uneven and too quirky for the role, a role which requires her to come off as depressed. Under the acting talents of Sereboff she doesn’t come off so much as depressed as she does clinically insane.

The interplay between the characters, the solid writing, and the great subtlety of Bay State Blues is a rarity in an indie drama. Most indie dramas come off like bad movies of the week or Lifetime flicks. Normally, I turn down dramas and don’t even bother reviewing them; I’m glad that I didn’t with this one. Here’s hoping that director Mark Lewis’ film becomes a success and he is allowed to make some larger-budgeted flicks… while keeping the blue-collar ethos that works so well for Bay State Blues.

Final Synopsis: This movie is pretty good. If you’re a drama fan, you can probably rate it a little higher. As an indie drama, it’s top of the line stuff. If you watch the film, check out Lewis’ awesome companion short films, awesomely entitled Blue Collar Bastards, which you can find on http://www.baystateblues.net.

Points Lost: -1 for some uneven-ness from most of the cast, -1 for Allyson Sereboff’s performance, -1 for too much in your face camerawork

Lesson Learned: It’s never good when Wojo comes to town.

Bay State Blues
7/10

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