I had the chance to see this film in NY about 10 years ago, at one of the 'cast and crew' screenings that Pacino would have - he used to show the film to friends/colleagues when working on 'big' Hollywood pictures - private screenings for 50 to 200 people. It's a really interesting, complex film - at only 56 minutes. In the style of British playwright Harold Pinter, it portrays dark, weird, complicated relationships - you're not really sure who's doing what and why - but in a good way, it's all intentional. Lots of pauses and silences, elliptical dialogue. Similar to films like ICE STORM - or Bergman stuff. It's mysterious - the psychology and personalities and motivations of the characters are all hidden and they are evasive - but it's fascinating to watch. What are these characters really after? Some GREAT acting from Pacino and Paul Guilfoyle (now in the original CSI!) - like a master-class in acting, seriously. They play Graham and Ray, two friends (lovers?) in London, who embark on a dark and mysterious journey. I don't want to give too much away! The late Joe Mahar plays a fastidious and pompous celebrity in the film and is also terrific. Film was produced by Pacino and directed by David Wheeler (who directed him on Broadway in Richard III and Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel). Beautifully shot, too - on Super-16. It's never been released until now - it showed only at museums and a handful of film festivals - but it FINALLY came out on DVD in June 2007 - in a trio box-set entitled 'AN ACTOR'S VISION' (along with Chinese COFFEE and LOOKING FOR RICHARD). I hear there is an annoying interview with Pacino on the DVD, as an epilogue, that 'explains' the film - what a mistake to pander like that.
Review of The Local Stigmatic
