FINDING A GEM IN ROBBERY

Director Corey Stanton‘s film debut is shockingly good as we learned from his interview with Ben Mulroney during “Your Morning” that he removed himself from medical school to pursue his passion for film.  Robbery which made its premiere at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival is not your slasher, monster, ghoul or spaceships in the future flick that the audience gets all psyched up for.  Rather Robbery is a dark crime drama that follows a young thief named Richie, played by Jeremy Ferdman, who is in some serious trouble because he needs to pay off a dangerous debt.  Canadian icon Art Hindle plays Frank who is the father of Richie who is experiencing dementia and is the only one who can help Richie get out of his predicament because of his long resume of criminal involvement.  Richie also becomes involved in a gambling addiction anonymous group where he tries to face his demons but also finds his romantic interest Winona, played by Sera-Lys McArthur, who helps him see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Frank then offers Richie the necessary help to become a young successful thief before he becomes completely clueless because of dementia.

The ironic thing about the film Robbery is the fact that you go into the film thinking at the top of your mind that some cool heists are about to take place.  They do but rather Corey Stanton really digs deep and develops the anti-hero character of Richie and his son-father relationship with Frank.  The two have so much chemistry in the film and they are both characters you would not even like to come across in real life for many numerous reasons.  But in this film, you develop a keen liking to these ‘losers’ and you want them to succeed in their robberies.  Simultaneously,  you start to develop a real hate for Richie’s enemies too who are played by John Tench and Jonathan Koensgen who both play evil goons.  Their dying boss Roxanne who is played by Jennifer Dale makes you gain a deeper and intrinsic hate for without any sympathy.  This is all the genius work of director Corey Stanton who makes his actors and actresses seep into the mind of the audience and gives them emotional candy throughout the film.  To even make you love the old crime-ridden dementia laden character Frank played by Art Hindle just goes to show you that people will always and forever remain the business of your film.