by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Crime thrillers present stories that people know and can generally sink their teeth into, and that’s how they generally stand out in the saturated world of film. You can probably find a new entry in the genre on VOD coming out every other week. The redemptive criminal, the desperate person on their last legs, or a lawman versus criminal tale. So many to choose from! But so many of them feel disposable and forgettable. The audience really needs someone to root for… and understand the reason to do so.
With The Gateway, director and co-writer Michele Civetta attempts to deliver a crime thriller that is worth remembering. He certainly puts a strong foot forward trying to make this film stand out. The visuals are exaggerated with the sharp colors and aggressive shadows. This gritty look to the film allows the audience to feel the dirt and grime that permeates every character and story. There are few characters in this film who are truly innocent (many of which are quite despicable). Even our protagonist, Parker (Shea Whigham), does not stay in his lanes and develops unprofessionally close relationships with the families he serves as a social worker.
Civetta is committed to giving the audience plenty of opportunities to connect with the characters and see what is underneath. We don’t get enough crime-thrillers where that is a priority. But Civetta doesn’t quite provide enough depth for all the ideas and themes tackled in the film. This screenplay is overstuffed with too many characters and subplots. At the center, our protagonist is a former foster child with a tense relationship with his biological father (Bruce Dern). We understand why he tries too hard and goes beyond the boundaries of his social work. He struggles with his own vices as an alcoholic (which opens the door to Taryn Manning and Mark Boone Junior characters, even if they don’t make large impacts). The single mother that Parker protects is mostly a beaten woman stereotype, but she does get a few moments. The antagonists are either walking cliches or not even necessary from a narrative standpoint. The real heart and soul are the dynamics that Parker has with this mother and child as well as the tense relationship with his father. Throw in themes about the toll of war and what makes a family, and the audience is given plenty to sink their teeth into.
Whigham, given a rare leading man opportunity, sinks his teeth into this character of Parker. He gives one of the strongest performances of his that I have seen, and he certainly makes the most of his leading man role. Dern probably makes the biggest impact out of any other actor in the film as he brings his veteran presence and gritty, rough old man demeanor to great effect. Frank Grillo is given top billing, but his whole role could be cut and it wouldn’t really be missed. He does his tough guy routine well and sells some Vietnam dialogue. Olivia Munn does a solid job as this mother stuck between a violent husband and his child. Quick shout out to Keith David who charms up the screen for just a few minutes. He wasn’t necessary, but he certainly was one of the most memorable performances, so that says a lot.
Civetta injects enough into The Gateway with its depth of our characters, especially Parker, that we care more than your average crime-thriller. The film tries to tackle too much, but there are more hits than misses. Honestly, this is even just worth checking out for the strong performance from Whigham. If you are a fan of the genre, this one will have plenty for you to sink your teeth into.
Grade: C+