By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
The new indie movie
?The Parts You Lose,? from director
Christopher Cantwell (TV?s ?Halt and Catch Fire?) and screenwriter
Darren Lemke (?Shazam!? and ?Gemini Man?) is simple and slow moving, yet engages with impressive performances all around beginning with newcomer Danny Murphy.
Murphy stars as Wesley, a 10-year-old deaf kid who lives in a small North Dakota town. Because he?s different and doesn?t fit in with the rest of the kids at school, Wesley is often bullied.
His homelife isn?t much better. Although his mother Gail (Mary Elizabeth Winstead, ?Gemini Man?) and little sister Amber (Charlee Park) are loving and supportive, Wesley?s ornery father Ronnie (Scoot McNairy, TV?s ?Narcos: Mexico?) is controlling and emotionally abusive toward them.
However, Wesley?s life takes a dramatic turn. When walking from school, he stumbles upon a bloodied man (Aaron Paul, ?American Woman?) sprawled out on the snow-covered ground.
Wesley decides to help him and drags him to his family?s nearby barn. Meanwhile, news stations are reporting that an armed and dangerous bank robber is on the loose and police are combing the entire area trying to find him.
Yeah, he?s the guy.
Of course, Wesley isn?t aware he?s harboring a fugitive and continues to sneak him food and medical supplies. When the injured criminal realizes that Wesley is deaf, he develops a bond with him and even goes so far as to show him how he should stand up to those punks at school.
But as the robber slowly gains Wesley?s trust, he?s also in a bit of a predicament and wonders if Wesley will fess up to the police when they drop by to question his parents.
Wesley has finally found someone who understands and likes him and isn?t about to turn him in. But our fugitive isn?t so sure and for him, it becomes a question of self-preservation.
As their odd relationship unfolds, this is when ?The Parts You Lose? becomes an emotionally charged and satisfying drama.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays now at 6:20 p.m. on radio station KFBK 1530 AM and 93.1 FM.
Check Out This Trailer For
THE PARTS YOU LOSE"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics? Association (BFCA), The Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC), The Alliance Of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ) and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
