Another story of redemption detailing 28-year-old Gary Cradle’s struggle to redeem himself after committing a sickening crime. Having no more money to buy drugs, and no one left to bum from and not pay back, Gary (played amazingly by Gareth Reeves) decides to rob a middle-aged neighbor. The woman comes home while Gary is still inside burglarizing the home and a struggle ensues that ends with Gary inexplicably raping the woman. Afterward, Gary is so disgusted with himself and what he has done that he decides to turn his life around. He is going to make up for his sins by quitting drugs, getting a job, and making some long-needed repairs to his damaged relationships with his retired father and prostitute sister. Things start of well but unfortunately the odds are not in Gary’s favor. He is about to learn that deciding to do something is a hell of a lot easier than actually doing it and sometimes simply being sorry for the pain you have inflicted is not enough.

After reading the synopsis to this film from New Zealand, I decided to give it a go and see what director Gregory King did with it. Mainly because I was curious as to whether he was going to try and make me feel sorry for this schmuck and make excuses for what he did and for what he had become. I’m so glad I did. Fans of D’D and the material we feature should probably see if you can get you a copy of the film as it touches on a few things we talk about here on a daily basis.

See, I was a bit wary going into the film because I figured that the creators were going the bleeding-heart route and were trying to convince me that everyone deserves a second chance no matter the crime they have committed. Including a rapist. That it isn’t their fault entirely, but rather everyone and everything around them should share the brunt of the blame. No matter what side of the fence you are on in regards to criminals, the answers on how to curtail criminal behavior or what to do with the ones who partake in it, are not simple or clear cut. I wondered if KingKing reviews was going to echo that sentiment, or beat the subject matter into a simple “Drugs are bad, Mmmkay?” or “Smile on your brother” type of mold.

But “GoodGood reviews” pleasantly surprised me. And by pleasantly I do not mean the material is pleasant as it is not. It is pretty damned bleak, actually. And for me, that’s the way it should be if you are going to make a movie detailing a character like Gary. There are a few types of criminals I just cannot forgive. Ever. People who commit crimes against children are one, rapists are another. I do not care if they serve the punishment handed to him by a court of law or a jury of peers, sympathy is an emotion those types of criminals will never illicit from me. To me, the only way those type of people can ever benefit society is if they are removed from it permanently or are locked up indefinitely making license plates or cleaning highways. So I watched with interest to see where King was going, and if by some miracle he would somehow get me to like fucked up, loser, waste of space, rapin’ Gary. I wanted to see if he would have me cheering for Team Gary as he slowly begins the process of changing his life for the better.

And you know what? There were times when I actually was. Watching Gary trying to mend his dysfunctional relationship with both his father and sister, as well as bonding with his nephew are bittersweet and at times a bit touching. It’s during this portion of the movie that I felt like I was watching and extended “InterventionIntervention reviews” and being shown someone who completed rehab and is struggling to stay clean. But the subjects of that television show are not rapists. On one hand I felt like congratulating Gary when he cleared certain hurdles, but the other hand would slap me in the face and back into a position of cold indifference. Merely observing a rapist who deserved to be rotting in a cell, not enjoying renewed family bonds, epiphany or not. It made for an interesting conflict of emotions.

King never goes as far as to try and sway anyone to any side of any argument. “Good” simply picks a man who has done something despicable and who is attempting to make up for it with good deeds. Throw in a bit of dark humor and some social commentary and what you are left with is a surprisingly deep film that is often times disturbing. No excuses are offered – peers, home life, social class are all presented as smaller pieces to a much bigger and even more complicated puzzle.  When Gary’s new, short life of sobriety and goodwill begins to crumble I couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for him. Not because his new path may be too hard for him to follow, but because he didn’t make the decision to follow it earlier. I highly recommend everyone check out “Good” when you get a chance, just be warned that this is not a “feel good” type of film. King does not take the easy route with Gary and offers more than enough meat to chew on. For that, I’m giving “A Songsong of Good” 3.5 pink Balaclava’s out of 5.

Rating:

Song Of Good, A - 2008 - More Information

Director: Gregory King
Writer: Gregory King
Actors: Gareth Reeves, Matthew Sunderland, Ian Mune, Danielle Cormack, Jonathon Hendry, Caleb Griffiths, Darien Takle, Jarod Rawiri
Genre: Drama - Crime
MPAA: R
Company: Rialto Distribution

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