Neon Affair is the sophomore feature film from Sean Hinds. The writer and director’s romantic crime thriller introduces audiences to Toni (Catilyn Joi). The Brooklyn native is frustrated, mainly due to her micromanaging, nagging boss who doesn’t give her a moment’s peace. Toni is barely scraping by, but finds solace in the art she creates. One day, when her car won’t start and she needs to get to work, Toni meets the cocksure and good-looking Junior (Marcus R. Smith). While she tries to play it off, the two have an instant connection, and it isn’t long before they are officially dating.
The relationship is going well, for the most part. However, Junior is very coy about what he does for a living. This puts both of them in great peril, as his checkered past gets Junior and Toni tangled up in a heist neither of them wants to do. The only upside is, should they live, the two will have enough to solve their problems, and his debt to some unscrupulous characters will be paid. But do they live?
For a movie titled Neon Affair, there is a lack of colorful electric lights, wildly colored costumes or sets, and a dearth of chemicals. So, yeah, the title doesn’t properly convey the plot or even the tone of the film. While that isn’t a huge issue, it is important to go in with the right expectations, and this title, while attention-grabbing, does not set those. A Walter Hill romance, this isn’t.
Title oddness aside, how is the film? It is mostly quite good. The big issue is the seemingly indomitable runtime of 2 hours and 21 minutes. This film is only 4 minutes shy of being the same length as Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Regardless of whether one liked that superhero film or not, significantly more happens in it than here to justify an epic runtime. Here, though, most scenes just go on a few minutes longer than necessary. When Junior and his former crew go to get money from someone, said person tells a rambling story as to why they no longer have it. Who cares? The audience certainly does not. A number of scenes repeat themselves over and over. There are only so many times a viewer can listen to Toni ask Junior to tell her what’s going on before it loses any and all meaning.
A beaten woman is held at gunpoint, a revolver pressed to her head, in Neon Affair.
“…his checkered past gets Junior and Toni tangled up in a heist neither of them wants to do.”
With that being said, there is a ton to appreciate and admire in Neon Affair. To begin with, the cinematography is amazing. Hinds and his crew filmed on location all over the five boroughs of New York City. The Big Apple background provides CinemaScope-style compositions. Director of photography Akil Bakari allows the natural environment to envelop the characters and help generate a sense of foreboding danger.
The acting is excellent as well. Joi infuses Toni with charm. She comes across as truly being in danger and is a sweet romantic lead. Smith’s first scene is a little wooden, but he gets much better after that. The rest of the cast is always good, with a special shout-out going to Briana Starks and Anthony Gross. They are both very compelling and dangerous.
Storywise, the film has a few unexpected twists. The romance is believably written, and the big obstacle in their way makes sense. The heist aspects make sense, and everyone’s motivations remain clear throughout.
A fantastic hour-and-45-minute cut of Neon Affair exists within this film. As it at stands with a 2 hour and 21 minute runtime, the film is good. The pacing is off, as most scenes go on well past their point being established. But the technical craft in making the movie, especially the cinematography, is too good to ignore. Plus, the cast is terrific and embodies their characters nicely. Overall, this is worth watching once if any audience member can dedicate the sizable chunk of time needed to do so.
For more information, visit the official Neon Affair site.
"…worth watching once if any audience member can dedicate the sizable chunk of time needed to do so."
