Ryan Shoots First: Syndicate Smasher
Where could a movie with a title like Syndicate Smasher go wrong!? Oh yeah, it gets better the movie is produced by a film company named GenerAsian Pictures… get it? Like generation. I think you see where this is going. Man is this movie trying hard to be tough, we have people shouting, limbs being blown up and enough faux tough guy cursing you will think it was made by someone who has never actually cursed before but just read about it in books.
Syndicate Smasher stars Mel Novak as the leader of a group of Mercenaries that are being hunted by the Mafia, Yakuza, Russian Mob and Tongs ALL AT ONCE. Oh, yea remember when I said they were trying really hard. The CGI bullet shells will be flying when this rough and tough pack take on every possible cliche bad guy you can buy a costume for. And I mean it the shells all fly off in the same trajectory with the CGI shine of an early 90’s Pixar short.
I found my self most intrigued in the movie seeing what life must be like for people in this low budget segment of the movie industry. Between the office settings, homes and cars used in the film trying to see who drives the Mercedes, who owns the Nissan Sentra and which rich mob lord lives in a small 2 bedroom ranch in the LA suburbs was a real treat.
As award season approaches I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the tour de force delivered by the main bad guy Rusty’s lawyer who is so under appreciated his name is never given. His slimy lawyer delivery is so good he commands the scene even when he is obviously not there and his dialogue was delivered off screen via ADR while the actors look off-screen to the disembodied voice, magnificent!
The movie also motivated me to take up multiple languages like Russian if for nothing else than to see if the words the subtitles say they are saying are in fact true because I have a feeling they are not. I also commend the director and editing team for allowing the actors and scenes to flow. No, bother cutting away to different shots or even cutting when actors forget and fumble through their lines, they truly get out of the way and let the talent breathe.
If you’re wondering about the plot, the writer weaves a intricate complicated weave of shady deals, rouge detectives, good guys slinging coke, shady meetings in LA of every major mafia head from ONLY the Midwest, it’s like The Departed if it was being done as a elementary school play.
If you are looking for a gritty crime drama and your cable bill is past due, your Netflix account is de-activated and your local Red Box is out of movies why not give Syndicate Smasher a chance! Syndicate Smasher is an inspiring tale, it has shown that if you have the will power, some connections and enough cars and homes between family and friends you too can make a movie and get it put on Amazon Prime for the world to see! It truly is a film for a new GenrAsian!
