'Ballast' review

JimMyron Ross and Tarra Riggs (Credit: Lol Crawley/Ballast)

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Following his twin brother's suicide, Mississippi convenience store owner Lawrence (Micheal J. Smith Sr.) tries to keep it together, calm down his sister-in-law Marlee (Tarra Riggs) and look out for his nephew, James (JimMyron Ross), who keeps trying to rob him. The trio is low on cash and prospects, and troubled by years of strife between Marlee and Lawrence's brother.
 
The buzz: This certainly isn't the first indie to show people living through hard times on limited means, but first-time feature writer-director Lance Hammer has an impressively steady hand and command of mood. The film picked up cinematography and directing awards at this year's Sundance Film Festival and was also nominated for the Grand Jury prize.
 
The verdict: Now that's a sense of place: The sound of rain, the splashing of puddles, the empty sadness of a life with nothing to do and nowhere to go. "Ballast" underwrites some of its characters (James' thug pals, in particular) and moves towards a forced emotional gesture without the proper buildup. The performances are so natural, though, and the attempts to turn need into something more stable are so universal, that the film feels almost like a documentary, inviting us to experience these people's lives with them while sharing their desire for escape.

Did you know? At one point, Lawrence takes James into the store to pick out whatever he wants to eat. This is a generous move for a family member and an unwise move for someone on a diet.

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