Well, at least Brain Skiba's noir-thiller "Dirty Little Trick" is a unique entertainment experience. It is just not a very good one.
The film, which screened as a showcase feature at the Phoenix Film Festival, has a faded or even black-and-white look about it with accents of red for lipstick, dresses, etc. (think "Sin City"). It is quite the stylish project, a comment that can also be attributed to its storytelling method.
However, said method also lends itself to universal confusion. Skiba jumps back and forth in time without notice, causing most moviegoers' heads to spin as they desperately try to follow the bizarre action. The worst part about that is that Skiba's tale is one worth trying to decipher. Good luck with that, though.
Dean Cain plays Michael, a man who agrees to give a seemingly helpless young woman named Sarah (Christie Burson) who is hitchhiking on the side of the road. She seduces him and then appears to be on her way. Little does Michael know, though, that Sarah is quite the little con-artist.
See, Sarah has blackmailed a notorious gambler (Joe Jones) who just so happens to be involved with a crime lord (Michael Madsen). Throw in a weaselly bank employee (Dean Matthew Ronalds) and a whole lot of cash and Michael has found himself entangled in a web of love, lies and deceit.
And entangled might be the most appropriate word, too. If that synopsis alone gives you a headache, this critic would advise against trying to interpret the movie itself. Moreover, "Dirty Little Trick" is riddled with bullet holes when all is said and done. In other words, it really does not make complete sense.
On the other hand, Skiba does deserve some credit for "Dirty Little Trick's" interesting visual appearance. Similarly, his unique storytelling approach, while nearly unintelligible, is engaging enough to keep one's interest. As an art film experiment, it works wonders. As a legitimate thriller, it fails miserably.
Therefore, seeing "Dirty Little Trick" at a film festival can be kind of enjoyable. Seeing it under any other conditions, though, will leave the worst taste in your mouth imaginable.
The 11th Annual Phoenix Film Festival takes place March 31-April 7 at Harkins Scottsdale 101, 7000 E. Mayo Blvd. Tickets, which range in price from $10 for a single screening to $250 for a VIP package, are currently available on the Phoenix Film Festival Web site and will be also sold throughout the event at the Phoenix Film Festival Welcome Center next to Harkins Scottsdale 101.
Listen to Joseph J. Airdo's “Movie Maverick” segment every Friday morning during “The Daily Blender with Jeffry O'Brien,” 6-9 a.m. weekdays on NBC 1260 AM and 96.1 FM.
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