There’s so much to love about The Last Hot Lick, so I urge you to give the film a little time to warm up. First, Jaime Leopold is both charming and wonderful as Jack. As Jack, Jaime Leopold still has his singing chops. His country/ western tunes are wonderful, and he appears comfortable performing in these tiny venues. Again, is he acting?
My admiration for Jaime Leopold’s performance is no slight to Jennifer Simieja in any way. She is not the “villain” of the film but serves as Jack’s foil as she derails his aspirations. She’s also got a great singing voice to boot.
“…Leopold is both charming and wonderful…”
Where the story kicks into high gear is the revelation of Bobby’s secret. It’s dark, and the entire film shifts in tone at this moment. As good fortune falls on Jack, there’s a specter of doom that hangs overhead. When Bobby’s secret is revealed, I was invested in Jack, and my mind went to all the horrible consequences that could fall on this good man. Even though you know the good times are short-lived, this conflict plays out brilliantly. The notes of the dramatic are tragic as they are beautiful.
The Last Hot Lick is an independent film that tells a fantastic story in a way that only an indie can. The big studios would probably have ruined the story with a big name and an insistence on Hollywood dramatics. That said, writer/director Mahalia Cohen has a clear vision for this story and stuck to it. Here’s someone the big studios should invest in and let tell her stories.
"…here's someone the big studios should invest in and let tell her stories."
