Infamous

By: Robert Warren

Taking cops and robbers to a new level is this badass film Infamous. It is full of car chases, gun battles, romance and, quite frankly, a desire for viral fame. Vertical Entertainment has produced Infamous and this movie is so good that I would even argue it should be the movie of the year.  What makes this film such a must-see production is Bella Thorne’s strong performance, the action packed emotionally charged movie scenes and an overall production that has your eyes glued to the screen.

Robbing their way across the south is lovable lady Arielle (Bella Thorne) and boyfriend Dean (Jake Manley), who share an instant connection. They are on this journey for two separate reasons: Arielle, the sweet talker, wants to gain social media followers after a dead media presence. She thinks these robberies will help to boost some fame. Dean, after accidentally killing his abusive father, wants these robberies to go well to get some money as he is in desperate need for escape. Needless to say, they end up trying to pull these robberies off together – Bonnie and Clyde style – in a battle of wits and desires. They fall in love with each other and they must push through the life they have created as criminals.

This film begs the question in its plot, “To what extent is fame worth the risks?” Through robberies, cop chases, gun pointing, love scenes, emotional charged choices and a true taste of desire for viral fame this movie takes viewers into deep thrills. It is intense! We see the character Arielle talking on the phone to her followers wondering, “Is this my destiny?” Then, we twist and learn what that real destiny is and what it encompasses. What Thorne does so well in her performance of Arielle is she shows us what a strong woman she is – both as herself and the character. Thorne has soft movements yet possesses a strong voice. Arielle spots Dean working on a car. She walks by him and stops. She flirts with him. Then, as he begins to take an interest and seeks out her name she tells him he has to earn that. We see that boost of confidence from Thorne and right then we’re invested in the romantic journey to come. She sees him and knows she wants to be with him. Arielle is determined to get Dean and here we truly see the passion in Thorne. When Dean’s father tries to attack it’s incredible to watch Arielle come to the defense. She swoops Dean right off his feet and into a journey of robberies and travel that change their lives forever. Needless to say, this moment truly highlights Thorne’s talents and she shines as the brightest actor in the entire film.

What’s not to love about this movie? I, honestly, am a fan of everything they did here. Sure, the movie was a bit slow to start, but it was necessary to fully understand the character Arielle. Director Joshua Caldwell (known for his work on TV series “Welcome to Sanditon” and “South Beach”) was truly able to take an old age idea of cops and robbers and flip it by making it geared towards millenials and their desire for growth on social media. I think it was genius. It shows how people are so obsessed with social media and that sometimes they will do anything to grow their numbers, including robbing banks or committing a crime.

When we look at how connected these characters are we really are drawn in and that is in part due to some of the brilliant cinematography in this film. It’s the low lighting romance, the car in the dark and the ugly fluorescent bank robbery with sped up camera shifts that really make the cinematography clean and complete. It’s the fast back and forth with quick shifts during the cop chase, the clear focused shots of the guns and the settled focus on an item left behind that keep the thrill alive in this movie.

The film Infamous is a genius action thriller that is so engaging a bathroom break even seems to be nonexistent in your mind. It’s a must watch film from genius directorial takes, beautiful cinematic works, engaging ideas and an outstanding performance by Bella Thorne. If you haven’t seen it yet, you’re already missing out because Infamous is what I would call the must watch film of the year.