A broken police detective grapples with personal tragedy as he takes on his next high-profile case in Jaron Lockridge’s crime film, Cubic Zirconia. Keith Lamont Johnson plays Detective Bobby Clarke, a once highly decorated police officer. His life and career showed no signs of slowing down until his wife’s sudden death. Bobby struggles to get out of bed each morning but is finally ready to return to work. Is it too soon?
His first case involves the disappearance of a mother, Tamela Benton, and her two children. Of course, all eyes are on her ex-husband, Jeff (Carter Nelms), recently divorced over domestic violence charges. Things get progressively worse for Jeff as the police find her abandoned car and then her deceased body, but where are the kids?
As the case becomes more high-profile, the state assigns him a partner he doesn’t want, Natalie Brim (Kate Mobley). However, professionalism forces Bobby to smile and move on. Now, with the discovery of Jeff’s son, the FBI wants to take over.
What we have with Cubic Zirconia is a standard crime procedural with the missing mother and her two children. Much of the film follows Bobby and Natalie moving through the case. Bobby has a keen eye for observation, and Natalie becomes a Ying to Bobby’s Yang.
“A broken police detective grapples with personal tragedy as he takes on his next high-profile case…”
As we move from one forensic investigation to a suspect interview, writer/director Jaron Lockridge carefully documents Bobby Clarke’s phoenix-like rise from his former shattered state. Broken is the keyword. The once brilliant Bobby Clarke is now a target of pity, and as the investigation drags out, pressure is on him to find answers fast, or the case will be taken out of his hands.
Cubic Zirconia is a fully independent crime thriller. Though the production may lack some sophistication with the lack of professional lighting, high-end digital cameras, and a more seasoned cast of actors, it harkens back to a time of the small studio production of the 80s and 90s.
The film is a testament to Lockridge’s sheer will to turn his script and story into reality. You do what you have to do to make your movie. Cubic Zirconia is set in a handful of locations, featuring local and emerging actors and minimal props, creating the foundation for a gritty crime thriller.
For Cubic Zirconia, Jaron Lockridge crafts a grounded crime thriller that leans heavily on its dark and gritty storytelling. While the budget and production limitations are evident, the raw storytelling and character-driven approach elevate the film into a noir-like exploration of resilience and redemption. It’s not flashy, but its indie charm delivers a much-needed middle finger to the big studios.
"…its indie charm delivers a much-needed middle finger to the big studios."
