Take Out the Trash!

Rating: 8/10 (2 April 2020)

Victor Salva's seventh film is unlike anything else he's done before it. It's not a fast-pace horror thriller. It's not a deeply moving drama about a lonely outcast. It's a slow-burn film based on a book Victor read while in prison that had a profound impact on him.
This movie is, for lack of a better term, a movie about spirituality. It's about surrendering control, being mindful of the situation you're in, focusing on the present and making the most out of every second we have right now. It's an important message that has the power to stick with a person for a very long time and will affect the way I approach a lot of things in my life.
Dan Millman (Scott Mechlowicz) is a gymnast. It's the one thing he feels he was born to do. When tragedy strikes, Dan is left in a situation where he must either surrender his current situation and recover by focusing on his mindfulness or potentially risk losing the one thing he loves most.
It's a beautifully written tale, slow moving (particularly in the first hour) but well worth the time investment. Victor Salva, once again, gives an outstanding performance both in the writing and directing of this film. The man has a natural gift for storytelling, and it's just as evident here as ever. The score is impactful, creating emotion in all the right places without ever coming across as sappy. All of the actors in this film were fantastic to the point of giving genuine performances all-around; there was never a moment that felt like it was a group of actors.
This movie leaves me with a major curiosity to read some of Dan's books. If this film is any indication of the kind of life he led and the things he encountered along the journey, I can't think of anyone who wouldn't want to experience the kind of present-minded determination explored in the film.