Bomb the System

Few New Yorkers are nostalgic for the graffiti days, yet this indie drama insists on making a graffiti “artist” its hero. Anthony, who takes the nom de guerre “Blest,” is a bomber who tags walls and bridges (translation: he runs about with his spray cans and writes “Blest” everywhere possible). His foes are rival gangs who want to spray their names on public and private property, and he's hounded by the city cops, who don't want to see any graffiti sprayed anywhere and are not shy about making their displeasure known (one teen bomber in the film gets arrested and driven across the river to New Jersey, where the cops beat him savagely and dump him along the road). Filmmaker Adam Bhala Lough tries to portray Anthony and his friends as modern rebels, but the truth is they are merely vandals with artistic pretensions. The film's soapy subplots find Anthony's mother trying to get him to put down his spray cans so he can attend college (she already lost a son in a fatal “bombing” run), and Anthony's girlfriend pushing her vision of underground art (which involves illegally plastering up posters insisting New York has become a police state). Mark Webber, who plays Anthony, is a charming and talented young actor, but he is unable to convince the viewer that his character's actions warrant admiration.  Not recommended.[Note: DVD extras include deleted scenes, interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage. Bottom line: a so-so extras package for a disappointing film.] (P. Hall)