LA, the City Of Angels, sometime in the 1940s (or is it the early 1950s), a city with too many narrative descriptions – and a detective protagonist who cross-dresses, suffers from claustrophobia and is in desperate need of a case that ‘changes his life’
Welcome to the Immediate Theater’s big-screen presentation of THE LONG ISOLATION – and the world of Marlowe Phillips (Jonathan Stark), much-sought after (perhaps in his own mind) private detective and former American POW ‘Cooler King’ (though perhaps the late Steve McQueen might have had something to say about that, but he was still a teenager around the time this took place!!!)
You see, a prized painting by immortal legend Salvador Fishfeld has gone missing and is allegedly sought-after by Bruce Gillis, who may or may not be who he is, but something dark and rotten is afoot – and Marlowe might try and solve it, if he can get over his fear of dark places….
Don’t worry if you get confused by the multiple strands of the classic noir plot here, as this is not what THE LONG ISOLATION is about, a delightfully hilarious and cut-price homage to Bogart and Co. that works to a tee. With a wonderfully evocative period-style score from Laura Hall, a theme song with music by Hall and lyrics by co-writer/directors Deb Lacusta and Dan Castellaneta, who also wear a few hats on screen (Lacusta, who also produces, plays Marlowe’s impatient fiancée and secretary), just sit back and watch it unfold au naturel.
This is a movie that you must pay attention to, right from the opening credits disclaimer right through to the vocals over the end credits in the realm of films like AIRPLANE and the classic Mel Brooks comedies like YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN. Cheap backdrops and classic photos of LA in montage.
It delivers on cheap and cheerful and fun laughs all the way through and is a lesson to people out there wanting to make bigger budget comedies. As with THE BIG KITTY, the tone is near-perfect, with great performances all round from a hugely talented ensemble.
One of the picks of LAIFF 2021.
The Los Angeles International Film Festival (LAIFF) runs from 16th – 21st November 2021. For information and tickets etc, please go to:
www.laiff.org
