5lbs of Pressure Director Phil Allocco

Hosted by Jason Godbey

On this episode director Phil Allocco talks about his latest feature 5lbs of Pressure starring Luke Evans and Rory Culkin. 5lbs of Pressure is the story of an ex-con who is trying to start over. As searches for redemption he returns to his old neighborhood to put to rest his demons while the brother of the man he killed seeks revenge.

Luke Evans leads the ensemble cast and gives a shockingly realistic portrayal of a man who’s just come out of prison and attempting to put his life back together. The performances are very strong all the way around particularly from Culkin who place a low-level drug dealer attempting to work his way up the ladder and Stephanie Leonidas as Evans’s ex-wife whos is desperately trying to hold on to their son to make sure he doesn’t go down the same path as his father.

Despite being filmed in England with a predominantly English cast, the film seems authentically Brooklyn. Allocco is a Brooklyn native, and as he explains in the interview, he was drawing from his personal knowledge of these types of characters. He also aids the film with some well-placed exterior shots of New York and some authentic signage. The film does seem like it’s a bit out of time. The characters and plot feel like they should be in the New York of the 70s and 80s. Still Allocco makes it work with a strong script and an excellent cast.

5lbs of Pressure is currently available on VOD. If you appreciate a gritty crime dramas, definitely give it a watch.

Be sure to tune in next week. Maribeth Thueson, William J. Hammon (ActuallyPaid.com) and I review of Dune Part II. Be sure to follow us here for more entertainment news and movie reviews. You can subscribe on your favorite podcast app or on YouTube.

Originally published at http://behindtherabbitproductions.wordpress.com on March 27, 2024.