Roadie

After his career as a roadie ends, Jimmy Testagross (Ron Eldard) reluctantly returns to his Queens hometown. It says something about their relationship that Jimmy doesn't inform his widowed mother (Lois Smith) about his upcoming visit. Jimmy tells her that he's still working for Blue Öyster Cult (although the band has just let him go), adding that he's been managing, producing, and writing for them, none of which is true. Although skeptical, Jimmy's mother humors him, albeit sensing that something isn't quite right. Jimmy, meanwhile, notices the gaps in her short-term memory, but keeps it to himself. Things go from bad to worse when Jimmy runs into his former girlfriend, Nikki (Jill Hennessy), and his old nemesis, Randy (Bobby Canavale): married for 17 years, she's a struggling singer/songwriter and he runs his family's car dealership. Randy gets on Jimmy's nerves by calling him "Testicles," (a high school nickname) but Jimmy bonds with Nikki over the bands and shows of their youth. Although he insists he got over her years ago, it's clear Jimmy is lying again, and when he ends up at a motel room party with the couple, large quantities of cocaine and alcohol dislodge 26 years of pent-up jealousy and resentment. Roadie is stagier than Michael Acuesta's previous films (L.I.E., Twelve and Holding), making it an actor's showcase; fortunately, the cast is fine, particularly Eldard, in his most challenging role to date. Recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include an HDNet production featurette (5 min.), a photo gallery, and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is the BD-Live function. Bottom line: a small extras package for a solid character study.] (K. Fennessy)