Adrian Glynn McMorran in ‘Volition’
‘Volition’: This crime story elevates into a science-fiction mind-bender
Directed by: Tony Dean Smith
Written by: Tony Dean Smith and Ryan W. Smith
Starring: Adrian Glynn McMorran, Magda Apanowicz, John Cassini, Frank Cassini, Aleks Paunovic, and Bill Marchant
“Volition” – “They say when you die, your whole life flashes before your eyes. I wish it were that simple.” – James (Adrian Glynn McMorran)
James - a 30-something who decidedly earned his education at the School of Hard Knocks - struggles these days. Well, not just recently, because, he has strained against invisible chains for decades, and the emotional toll has left damaging imprints which everyone can see.
Thin, a bit malnourished, sporting unkempt rows of fine brown hair, and seemingly needing a few more hours of sleep during every waking moment, James resembles Mr. Orange (Tim Roth) from “Reservoir Dogs” (1992) but with less polish. No, he’s not an undercover officer. He lives by himself in an industrial-style apartment above Blue Chip Auto, Glass & Detailing, looks for new ways to make a buck, keeps close ties with small-time criminals, and feels totally at ease around casual discourse of cocaine deals and recent paroles.
On this particular day, Ray (John Cassini) summons James to his rather large upholstery business, but not to discuss pencil pleat, tab top, or eyelet curtains. Ray is working a smuggling deal of the most risky, the most guarded and – if everything doesn’t go according to plan – the most dangerous kind, but he needs James’ help. You see, James’ aforementioned shackles aren’t imaginary. His torments are visible to him.
He’s clairvoyant.
James sees snippets of the future, which can be pretty darn handy, but ultimately, his gift instigates crippling and agonizing regret.
You should have no regrets watching “Volition”. This engaging crime story elevates into a twisty mind-bender, one that explores both philosophy and quantum physics, and all within a densely-packed 88-minute runtime. Director/co-writer Tony Dean Smith and his brother/co-writer Ryan W. Smith reach for and grasp a big-time science-fiction idea (that this review will not reveal) and bend it with a fresh, new approach that confuses and disorients their characters, including James.
Although he hasn’t quite found a path towards a healthy life, James clears a wide-open route for the audience towards him. This flawed protagonist earns our trust and gathers our sympathies just a few minutes into the picture, when he rushes to the aid of Angela (Magda Apanowicz). She’s a damsel in distress who suffers from bad choices, but her hip red Converse high tops are not one of them. This considerate, empathetic 20-something - with a penchant for bad boys – finds herself suddenly joined at the hip with James, as she learns about his paranormal abilities, but these two soon run from trouble due to Ray’s unlawful scheme.
Since James doesn’t carry a full Rolodex of close friends, Angela almost immediately becomes a coveted confidant. Their thrown-into-the-deep-end alliance establishes an immediate emotional connection for the audience, as we become invested with their journeys. James tries to overcome his intangible personal demons, and the couple attempts to dodge a menacing, tactile threat.
Ray’s cousin Sal (Frank Cassini) and Terry (Aleks Paunovic) are a clumsy pair who figuratively play checkers on a chessboard, although they carry firearms, so there’s that. The latter lug – a mountain of a man with a short fuse – probably sets his sights beyond board games and competes in MMA inside a cyanide-laced, barbed-wire cage surrounded by a lava moat.
You may lean forward at the thought of that particular sporting activity, but “Volition” has the same effect.
This straight-forward, crime-gone-wrong chase movie takes astonishing conceptual turns as well. Your jaw may hit the floor. You might rub your eyes or clear out your ears to regain focus, or if you’re like this critic, start looking at your fingers to perform mathematics. Please solve the differential equations lickety-split or practice multitasking because the on-screen events move quickly, as Angela, James, and a man from his past (Bill Marchant) bid to solve a pressing crisis.
Tony reveals the film’s secrets to James and the audience simultaneously, and this is a smart choice because the narrative dives into exceedingly trippy territory. Rather than leave us desperately guessing at events and concepts that James already knows, our hero and we learn together during this race against time. Hey, we might be playing catch-up, but thankfully, so is James, as he offers a cinematic lifeline of normalcy under uncanny conditions.
“Volition”, however, doesn’t exclusively lean on calculations. Like any memorable sci-fi story, this movie’s foundation is grounded with the human condition, and since James is suffering from a lifetime of hard knocks, here’s hoping that he finds a soft landing.
(3.5/4 stars)
Jeff – a member of the Phoenix Critics Circle – has penned film reviews since 2008, graduated from ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, and is a certified Rotten Tomatoes critic. Follow Jeff and the Phoenix Film Festival on Twitter @MitchFilmCritic and @PhoenixFilmFest, respectively.
