THE PROJECT

Directed By Ryan Piotrowicz

Review By Shane Morton

The Project is a powerful film that dares to explore the touchy subject of inner city violence, racial politics and the role of the media in society.  What could have easily been cheesy or a toned down production, The Project is a tour de force of emotional honesty.

This film seemed like a real documentary at first.  So much so that I had to take a second to make sure I was watching the right film.  I knew that it was a narrative film with actors I knew, but…… I believed.  This is the first feature film by director/writer Ryan Piotrowicz.  It is a film that does not hold back and keeps you riveted to the screen. 

Three first time filmmakers decide to make a documentary that will matter about urban youth and the police in inner city Brooklyn. 

Justin Bell (Michael Stahl-David) follows two NYPD officers as they patrol the streets of Brooklyn.  Dan Masterson (Matt Servito) is a Caucasian cop who seems to truly be a man of the people and his partner  Alex Mora (Sebastian Sozzi) is a rookie cop who just got back from the war and is dealing with a very sick child at home.  However, he is a cop that is trying to make a difference in his community.

Dana Murphy (Jamie Proctor) is Justin’s girlfriend, who agreed to make this movie with him.  They talked their friend John Carter (Nicholas Webber) into helping them and to also film the filmmakers as they chronicle their process.  Dana and john follow a young African American youth named Thomas Coventry (Dante Clark) and his family as they struggle with living in a poor community and being raised by a single mother.  Their father is in prison and is supposed to get out soon. 

Dana becomes extremely involved in the life of this family and loses her filmmaker objectivity.  Something that the other two see happening.  Throughout the film her inability to stay detached and objective leads her into dangerous territory.  Nate ( Bilal Bishop) is a young street drug dealer friend of Thomas’.  His desire to be in front of the camera leads the story to a devastating end.  As paths cross and stories connect, the film takes on greek tragedy proportions as everyone is forever changed.

The performances in this film are just fantastic.  So believable, in fact I thought it was based on facts.  I was surprised to find that it is completely fictional.  Unlike most narrative films, this just reeked of realism.  A huge kudo to the scriptwriting ability of Ryan Piotrowicz and the amazing actors he surrounded himself with.  I expect to see Bilal Bishop’s name a lot in the future.  His star will surely burn bright. 

The only thing about this film that made me question was the final decision of Dana.  Her final action seems out of character.  Even angry at her partners, scared of what has just happened, you would think she would not charge out onto the streets alone to bring this film to its shattering end.  But yet, somehow I put the question aside quickly, and went with it. 

The Project is a wonderful film full of great storytelling, nuanced performances and brave truth.  Hopefully this film will get to be seen by many people. It should be!