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Feb 01, 2009 Winter 2009 - Anticipated Albums of 2009 By Chris Tinkham

Max Solomon (Spencer Berger) is such a poor writer that a performance of his play “The Onion Dance” hospitalizes his grandfather. Despondent and forced to accept the reality that a career in writing is improbable, Max robs a bank and consequently believes that he’s discovered his best skill. Max’s exploits—he becomes a klepto as much as a thief—have a profound influence on the lives of his two best friends, Dave (Gabriel Tigerman), the pragmatist, and Tommy (Brian D. Phelan), the domineering louse.
Despite a spectacular afro, Berger, who also wrote the screenplay, doesn’t bring a lot to his role comedically. Phelan, who’s hit and miss, is relied on too heavily to deliver laughs. There are some inspired scenes—particularly a flashback involving a substitute teacher named Mr. Nam—but often they lack rhythm or are hindered by flat dialogue. The film is distinguished, however, by some distinctively appealing Denver interiors and exteriors, captured adroitly by veteran television director of photography Robert F. Smith. Skills Like This, the feature debut by director Monty Miranda, won the Audience Award at the 2007 SXSW Film Festival and includes music by unsigned Denver bands on its soundtrack.

(www.skillslikethis.com)

Author rating: 4/10