Booster

This downbeat crime drama set in Boston has been compared to the early films of Martin Scorsese (as well as Ben Affleck's The Town), but is actually relatively devoid of spark or style. Anti-hero Simon (Nico Stone) is a low-level thief who singlehandedly supports his senile grandmother, as well as a dying former hood (Seymour Cassel), and an older brother, Sean (Brian McGrail)—the last being a screw-up who lands in jail after a botched armed robbery. Both Sean and a criminal associate (Adam DuPaul) put pressure on Simon to help throw doubt on the case against Sean, but that will require Simon to become a different kind of outlaw. Simon also has love and happiness just within reach, thanks to a new romance with Megan (Kristin Dougherty), but the question remains of which path he will take as he faces a crucial crossroads. This promising story is unfortunately lost in a monotonous succession of dreary moments involving the lighting of cigarettes or watching Sean fence stolen goods, when he isn't busy looking at the floor in a state of emotional repression. Writer-director Matt Ruskin's Booster ultimately feels as suffocated as its central character. Not recommended. (T. Keogh)