MicroCinema Scene

A small time thief is hired to steal a priceless artifact in order to repay a debt to his boss, but as he gathers together a crew it becomes apparent that this is no ordinary job in Cerberus Films’ The New Chapter.

The microbudget answer to big budget heist films like Heat and Ocean’s Eleven, The New Chapter quickly sets up the scenario, introduces the characters, and before we know it we’re knee deep in a robbery that seems doomed from the outset.  The filmmakers cover familiar ground with a steady hand, and do a commendable job of setting a quick pace that makes the movie feel more like a ride than a simple viewing experience.

The greatest strength but also the only noticeable weakness in The New Chapter comes during a jaw-dropping shoot-out a third of the way into the flick.  Armed to the teeth, our gang of thieves take on a seemingly endless number of masked gunmen, with plenty of bullets to spare.  While technically some of the best moviemaking on the micro or indie scene, the only drawback is that the thieves who we’re following come across as faceless as the gunmen attacking them, leaving the viewer with less of an attachment than if the main cast were fleshed out more before the shooting started.  The few characters that are given memorable personalities aren’t exactly characters worth rooting for, which makes it hard to cheer them on through to the end of the flick.

The New Chapter is from the same core filmmakers that were behind the award-winning short Y2K:  Shut Down Detected, and their skills behind the camera are in full force here.  Shooting on video this time around, it’s clear to see that they take the time to make sure every shot is worthwhile.  The special effects are also some of the best on the scene, and I’m shocked that they haven’t been given a budget in the millions instead of the thousands to craft their movies.

The only real drawback of the movie are the characterizations, which is the same kind of complaint I’d lodge with a movie that was made for 12 or 120 million instead of $12,000 (the actual cost of The New Chapter).  As the credits rolled my only wish was that there was at least one character worth caring about; instead, I was simply left exhausted by watching a group of filmmakers hone their craft so well that they’re my picks for the “next big thing” on any scene, micro or Hollywood.

Four and a half stars.

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