GABRIEL Trailer

Talk about “under the radar.” If it’s Hollywood, you have to go for high value production numbers based on gross overuse of CGI and a hot girl who can barely act. On the opposite indie part of the spectrum though, you want artistic expression or an experience as close to real life as possible. For life pieces, the catch is that it has to be a totally cerebral analysis of the psyche. Furthermore, it needs to study that human social condition of angst that perpetuates a sexy loner mentality. Basically, you’re going to see a trailer about some weird guy who you may or may not find attractive based on his personality. This is the indie trailer for Gabriel.

Gabriel is directed by Lou Howe and stars the youngest of the Culkin clan, Rory Culkin. It also has Deirdre O’Connell (from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) as the supporting mother. A troubled youth searches for his first love, Alice. The trouble is his assumption that finding her will lead to his happiness. That is his one goal while a myriad of other issues exist, like his unstable mind. An issue that forces his family to watch him closely and be deftly afraid if he should happen to be around sharp objects.

Let’s start off with the first scene you see in the trailer. It’s creepy but allows us to know he’s nice enough to play with children. Incidentally or not, a great introduction to who he is as a person. In this scene, Gabriel is talking with a child and sharing Twizzlers as a substitute for cigarettes. Kids are impressionable little tykes and he’s essentially taken on the role of Joe Camel. This isn’t behavior you find in the well-adjusted or responsible. Hence, it is quite telling of his open but reckless attitude.

It just so happens my home city is the perfect place to film the sheer solitude a person can feel. You have scenes where people are passing by or on the other side of the platform but he’s still alone. Gabriel takes precedence in many of the New York shots where the other people are an afterthought unless you’re talking to them. That is very much how many New Yorkers see life here, as his business, crazy or not, is his business. The real focus of the shots are Culkin’s eyes which are his most captivating feature. Most of the shots in the trailer are of his face and the sadness perceived traditionally in eyes of that color.

It would be in bad taste if I didn’t mention the other actors. Along with the stressed out mom is the brother trying to hold the family together. I think it’s difficult to understand how important they are to the story. Their purpose is to impede Gabriel for sanity’s sake because it’s apparent he might try to off himself. The bathtub scene attests to one possible option for that act. David Call, who plays Matthew, takes charge of a struggling family by chasing after Gabriel. It’s quite obvious though that it is not something he enjoys but does out of love and duty. While I would love to mention Deidre O’Connell’s role, there is just not enough in the trailer for me to have a clearer picture than stressed-out mom.

Finally, this film is lauded for Rory Culkin’s acting. That’s fine, but I ask why he gets the better descriptions. Is this trailer about a movie or about Culkin’s “impressive performance” or his rarely afforded breakthrough role? All the while, Gabriel, gets tired phrases like “mesmerizing” or “a must see film” though I am probably guilty of using these as well. This is not about me though, but about star power overtaking the presence of the film. Thus, I figure my duty now is to bow my head to the new lord and master of the indie scene. All hail Rory Culkin!

Gabriel has already found its way through numerous U.S film festivals and two in Europe. Unfortunately, there are currently no other release dates at all.

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(top image source: Oscilloscope Pictures)