Bang

Push literally comes to shove in this low-budget 1995 indie flick from mono-named writer-director Ash, in which a struggling Japanese-American actress (Darling Narita) finds herself at the mercy of a Los Angeles cop (with a questionable dedication to protecting and serving)—and it's this last straw in a series of abuses that prompts her, in the heat of the moment, to appropriate his gun, uniform, motorcycle, and (by extension) his power. To say more would spoil the shock of this absorbing film; suffice to say that the unnamed main character's experience over the course of a single day—from a new perspective of unquestioned authority—is enlightening in more ways than one. Bang offers an engaging exploration of how the clout and influence granted by both individuals and society can just as easily be taken away. Recommended. [Note: DVD extras include interviews with the director and cast, an alternate ending, and production notes. Bottom line: a small extras package for a small but solid film.] (M. Johanson)