Dallas 362

Dallas 362

         Scott Caan has already proven to be a sturdy and reliable young
character actor in films like VARSITY BLUES, AMERICAN OUTLAWS
and the remake of OCEAN’S ELEVEN and its sequel OCEAN’S TWELVE.
He also has worked extensively in the Los Angeles theater scene as
playwright and director. Now he makes the jump to the big screen as
writer and director of an auspicious debut, DALLAS 362.

         Caan has cast himself in the pivotal role of Dallas, the best pal
of Rusty (Shawn Hatosy). The twenty-something buddies share an
apartment together and spend their nights drinking and smoking,
hitting on women, and getting into more than the occasional bar
fight. Oftentimes, they are bailed out by Rusty’s mom Mary (Kelly
Lynch). While she is clearly unhappy with her son’s choice of lifestyle,
she prefers it over his following his dream of becoming a rodeo
cowboy like his late father. Determined to aid her son, she turns
to her latest beau Bob (Jeff Goldblum) who happens to be a
psychologist.

         The relationship between Dallas and Rusty is the heart of the
film, with Rusty’s determination to change his life causing a riff
between them. Encouraged by his sessions with Bob, Rusty begins
to make difficult decisions about the direction of his life. Whatever
he chooses, he is aware that he will lose a connection with one of
the two most important people in his life: his mother or Dallas.

         Meanwhile, Dallas has hit on a scheme to rob the gangster
for whom he works and rather than subject his best bud to the
scheme, he enters into an agreement with Christian (Val Lauren),
knowing that Christian will want to cooperate for revenge’s sake.
When another job arises – this one proposed by a talkative one-night
stand (Isla Fisher) – Dallas jumps at the chance to earn some quick
cash. While the audience might be able to predict the eventual
outcome, Caan does manage to offer a couple of surprises along
the way.

         As a writer and director, Caan seems to be attempting too
much. By grafting a coming of age story onto a caper movie, he
creates what are essentially two separate features, each with a
different tone that don’t quite mesh together. However, he shows a
surprising agility with the older actors (Lynch and Goldblum are both
terrific) but fails when it comes to the annoying Christian and his
nagging wife (Selma Blair), who come off as caricatures rather than
characters.

         Instead of turning DALLAS 362 into a vanity production,
Caan shows his generosity by casting Shawn Hatosy in what is
essentially the leading role. I’ve been following the career of this
remarkably fine actor for years, since I first saw him in the Farrelly
brothers’ OUTSIDE PROVIDENCE. He’s done yeoman work as
Brendan Behan in BORSTAL BOY and as a homophobic grunt in
the underrated SOLDIER’S GIRL. Hatosy recently earned kudos for
starring as John McCain in the TV biopic FAITH OF OUR FATHERS,
and in DALLAS 362 he gets to once again display his versatility.
He and Caan have a terrific chemistry, and Hatosy’s scenes with
Goldblum are nothing short of remarkable.

         While DALLAS 362 does have its faults, it also displays
promise for Caan as a filmmaker. He has another screenplay in
development and I’ll look forward to seeing that movie, because
he’s obviously talented and clearly one to watch.

     Rating:                      C+
     MPAA rating:              R for language, sexual situations, drug use
     Running time:            100 mins.