Title: Traveling Light
Director: Bernard Rose
Screenplay: Bernard Rose
Year: 2021
Score: 6.86
Release: Streaming
I was asked to watch and review a new film from Bernard Rose and Tody Todd and my heart started racing!!!! Caaaaandyman sequel??? Nope. Okay, lets roll the dice.
Traveling Light tells the story of Caddy (Tony Todd) over a twenty four hour period on May 30th 2020 as he searches for his missing son who has been living on the streets, while working as an Uber/Delivery driver during the early days of the Pandemic in Los Angeles. His path crosses Harry (Danny Huston), a cult leader who is holding a bizarre happening/ceremony up on Mulholland drive where Todd (Stephen Dorff) and Mary (Olivia d’Abo) are attending as acolytes. All the while news of the horrific murder of George Floyd reverberates around the city as the social fabric collapses and we realize we are witnessing the end of an era… Funny and frightening in equal measure, Traveling Light is a Bunuelian satire of bourgeoisie life in Los Angeles at a moment of extreme crisis. Directed by Bernard Rose (Candyman 1992)
IMDB
Of everything I could have possibly expected from a Rose/Todd collaboration, a Terrence Mallick style meditation on Angelinos coping with the pandemic lock downs, the death of George Floyd, and a father’s search for a missing son, was are far away as possible.
Before I say anything else this picture is gorgeous. Emmanuel Lubezki level, museum grade, photography which can transport you from whatever dull day you are living in to glorious Los Angeles. Even if the performances were lackluster, which they are not, I would recommend this picture to anyone who love to witness what can be conveyed, visually, in the medium of film.
Story wise it is a little hit or miss. On one level I wouldn’t fault anyone on passing on the film because if Covid fatigue. The second storyline revolves around Danny Huston character who is seemingly convincing people that through him they don’t need to follow safety precautions. We get to watch Tony Todd delivering people through the pandemic so they can be reckless together while he is actively searching for his missing son, to try and keep him safe. After living through these years of social tension it almost seems lampoonish on such an irritating level.
I know that is the point, but the reminder that while I was trying others were flaunting feels like pouring Lego bricks into my shoes then trying to walk backwards on a treadmill. Maybe this movie will be more enjoyable in a few more years.
If that isn’t a rub for you then I would definitely recommend the movie now. Again, it is gorgeous, a sight to behold.
Director: 6 – Cinematography: 10 – Edit: 5 – Parity: 10 – Main performance: 7 – Else performance: 3 – Score: 6 – Sound: 8 – Story: 7 – Script: 6 – Effects: NA – Design: 7 – Costumes: 8 – Keeps interest: 8 – Lasting: 5