It takes Face Boy about 40 minutes to unveil its overall point. The kicker is that the drama, written and directed by Leo X. Robertson, is only 74 minutes long. Does that mean the film is a slog to get through until the last third?
Face Boy (Sam Crichton) is in an attic wondering aloud where everyone zooms along to every morning. He then proceeds to monologue about his life, his view of the world, and his peculiar mindset. Sometimes, stories of friends crop up, and so too does how lonely Face Boy is even when around them. And so goes the story, with the lead’s monologuing interrupted by therapy sessions with a stuffed bear (voiced by Crichton). The only other person seen on screen for any significant amount of time is Bro (Rob Crichton, Sam’s real-life brother). They play video games together and have conversations about this or that. Still, for most of the movie, it is just Face Boy talking directly to the audience.
Face Boy is exceptional as a platform for Sam Crichton’s talent. The actor delivers an intense, raw performance that is sure to elevate him to greater heights. He embodies a range of emotions, from madness to sweetness, tenderness to infuriation, and sincerity to mischievous, and makes each one believable and relatable. His fearlessness is evident, and any future projects starring Crichton should be eagerly anticipated for this reason alone.
“…[monologuing] about his life, his view of the world…”
Robertson, who also edited and was the director of photography, employs the frame in innovative ways. He uses extreme close-ups of Face Boy at unique angles to accentuate specific moments. Projections are used to overlay the main character, enhancing the sense of location or emotion. Despite the predominant attic setting, the cinematography is visually captivating.
Unfortunately, Face Boy seems to be spinning its wheels for a long while. After some 20 or so minutes of the titular character explaining how his father did not understand him or how his family would react to something he did, it begins to run dry. Thankfully, that’s right around the time the first therapy session is happening. But then it’s another good chunk of time in this attic as Face Boy recites his thoughts on life. It really starts to drag until the story of a person’s attempted suicide. Things pick up after that, but the motion picture could stand to lose 15 or 20 minutes to maintain its momentum properly.
Face Boy is an interesting experiment anchored by a brilliant performance from Sam Crichton. The actor is a revelation from start to finish. Robertson uses editing and lighting to good effect throughout to emphasize the main character’s emotional state. On the downside, the flick does get repetitive and its pacing suffers as a result.
For more information, visit the official Face Boy Facebook page.
"…anchored by a brilliant performance from Sam Crichton."
