Skills Like This (2007)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Monty Miranda

Writers:

Spencer Berger (screenplay)
Spencer Berger (story)

Release Date:

20 March 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Everybody Wants to be Somebody

Plot:

Max Solomon faces the awful truth that he will never be a writer. So, in a desperate attempt to find his true calling...

Plot Keywords:

Quitting Job | Briefcase | Security Guard | Love | Gun

Awards:

4 wins

Cast

Spencer Berger	...	Max
Brian D. Phelan	...	Tommy
Gabriel Tigerman	...	Dave
Kerry Knuppe	...	Lucy
Jennifer Batter	...	Lauren
Ned Bellamy	...	Uncle Morris
Marta Martin	...	Rosa
Zach Cumer	...	Cousin Jeramiah
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Danielle Arnold	...	Onion Dance Player (as Danielle Renee)
Brett Bertholf	...	Lead Singer
Brett Billings	...	Band Member
Paige Black	...	Girl on Bridge
Tom Borrillo	...	Italian Waiter
Charlee Chiv	...	Young Japanese Badass
Tupper Cullum	...	Englehard
Donna Dewey	...	TV Reporter
Tom Doyle	...	Italian Restaurant patron
Amy Rose Drucker	...	Nurse
Chris J. Ferrante	...	Bald drunk at drive through robbery
Patty Figel	...	Max's Grandma Uta
Chelsea Frye	...	Onion Dance Player
Quintin Gamer	...	Hall Pass Kid
Spencer George	...	Businessman in Bank
Chris Grundy	...	Man with Nice Suit
William Hahn	...	Bank Security Guard
Travis Kellog	...	Clerk in 24 Hour Store
Reverend Leon Kelly	...	Leon
Amie MacKenzie	...	Housewife
Mercedes Magee	...	Elderly Woman in Bank
Jeremy Make	...	Rusty
Robert Markle	...	Onion Dance Player
David Mijares	...	Kid in 24 Hour Store
John Nance	...	Dave's Boss Mr. Levar
Suzy Nelson	...	TV Anchorwoman
Winston Ngo	...	Onion Dance Player
Ben O'Connor	...	Band Member
Ry Feder Pruett	...	Late Kid
Kent Randell	...	Male Teacher
Shawn Rickel	...	Construction Guy in Bank
Paul Rohrer	...	Grandiose Actor
Marian Rothschild	...	Max's Mom
Mark Rubald	...	Bank Manager
Greg Schochet	...	Band Member
Matthew D. Sheahan	...	Sheingold
Damon Smith	...	Band Member
Harry Sterling	...	Grandpa Abe
Scott Swaggart	...	Parking cop
Daniell Taff	...	Gonzalo
Maggie Tisdale	...	Bank Patron
Roslyn D. Washington	...	Godfearing Woman in Bank
Marcus Waterman	...	Mr. Nam
Halden Wofford	...	Band Member
Quentin Yamasaki	...	Onion Dance Player

Runtime:

Germany:86 min (European Film Market) | USA:88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Norway:11 (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Arvada, Colorado, USA

Company:

Dewey-Obenchain Films

Trivia:

All the crime scenes were shot with Film cameras while the rest of the movie was shot with HD cameras.

Quotes:

Tommy: It's go time!

Nice Try (but better luck next time)

Every now and again,there is an exception to the fact that independently produced films are better than mainstream Hollywood fare. 'Skills Like These' is one of those exceptions. This is one of those films that tries like the dickens to be quirky & left of centre, but somehow fails. Max is a failure as a playwright. His latest bomb (called Onion Dance)has managed to clear the theater of audience members in it's opening night,plus given a major heart attack in it's one & only major backer (Max's grandfather). Max decides that he would do better trying to rob the bank across the street from the Mexican restaurant they spend most of their time at (where do they get the money to eat there,day after day?). Max decides to go on a crime spree, despite the guilt he feels for stealing other people's stuff. A romantic subplot only manages to bog this mostly unfunny shaggy dog story only further (although the female lead,Kerry Knuppe is easy on the eyes). Spencer Berger (who wrote the leaden screenplay)plays Max,a failed playwright with an impressive Afro hair-do. His two slacker friends,Tommy & Dave,are something out of a bad sitcom (Jay and Silent Bob have way more depth than these two). This is one film that is occasionally amusing,but lacks focus. Not rated by the MPAA,this film contains strong language & some mild sexual situations that would pretty much land it an 'R'. Thankfully,there are far better independent films to choose from out there.