Emilio Estevez hopes you will never look at homeless people and the Public library the same way again. Civil disobedience is at the core of this film which he wrote/directed/produced and stars. As Library Supervisor, Stuart Goodson, he helps homeless men barricade themselves inside Cincinnati’s public library and so they won’t freeze to death during a brutal cold snap. Shot in Cincinnati, Estevez shows the library as warm and inviting, but the city as gritty. He says making this film felt even more surreal when the polar vortex hit. This was not such a far-fetched idea.
Estevez’ inspiration to make the film was an article a retired Salt Lake City librarian wrote a couple of years ago about how the library has become a safe place for so many homeless. It’s described in the film as “peaceful and civilized and warm” where those marginalized in society can maintain their dignity. The shots of people in the stacks, on computer, reading classic books, is so harmless. None of these guys are hard-core criminals. We find out that the only harm they seem to do is to themselves trying to survive on the streets.
Estevez creates a small group of buddies with engaging personalities and lets you find out slowly over the course of the film what makes each tick. Jackson (Michael K. Williams) is kind of their ring leader who always has gently to say. When the library opens, you see these men making a bee line for the restroom to wash, shave, brush teeth, chattering all the while. There’s Big George (Musician Rhymefest in his first acting role) who thinks he has “laser eyes” that freak himself, as well as others, out. There’s Caesar (Patrick Hume) who is a walking talking encyclopedia. Any time someone brings up a subject, he spouts memorized information and they all shout “Hail Caesar!” It’s cute and they’re like their own family.
Full of personality, Jackson has a good relationship with Goodson, the library supervisor, even though he’s constantly pulling the straight-laced supervisor’s chain. Estevez is very understated in this role, but seems to relate more to the homeless guys better than to his bosses. He does a great bog not overplaying it, especially when things get tense. And he adds a bit of comedy here and there. Estevez shot a clever day-in-the-life collage of patrons of all ages asking stupid questions of the librarians to find often ridiculous information. Not unusual.
You get a sense that Goodson is not in good stead with his superior Mr. Anderson (Jeffrey Wright). The library is being sued for telling a man to leave the premises. It was a homeless man who smelled bad and was apparently coached to sue for $750 thousand. Mean prosecutor, Josh Davis (Christian Slater) wants to win this case to pave the way for a run for Mayor. But it gets more complicated when a severe cold snap prompts an act of civil disobedience supported by Goodson. He’s up to here with Anderson’s rules and the prosecutor/Mayor-wannabe’s grand-standing.
Slater plays a smarmy, self-centered, bully so well, and he banters with the police crisis negotiator brought in to defuse the situation, Detective Bill Ramstead, (Alec Baldwin). Ramstead has his own problems. His adult son is missing. The Detective has asked for time off to go with his ex-wife to try to find his son. Ironically, they’re worried he may be out in the cold with no place to go. Baldwin plays a character Estevez makes pretty one dimensional, especially during the standoff. We think there could have been more depth sparring with Slater’s Davis.
Although the film centers on the men, three very sharp females play integral parts bringing up other important issues of the day in light of this homeless protest. Myra (Jena Malone) is Goodson’s assistant librarian, constantly on his back about his large carbon footprint and her own job frustrations. She wears a scowl of disapproval most of the time for all kinds of reasons.
Goodson’s neighbor and Building Super, (for reduced rent), is Angela, (Taylor Shilling – Orange is the New Black). She’s savvy and sassy and takes an interest in Goodson and the library after he lets her know how books saved his life. She decides to check out the library right in the middle of the lock down. She steps up, finding a way to help her buddy by providing video he sends to her cell phone to the local reporter, Rebecca Parks, (Gabrielle Union) who has her own agenda. Parks gladly uses and spins it, trying to make a name for herself. Fake news?
Between the reporter, the prosecutor, the crisis negotiator and the Library Board of Directors, lots of ego surfaces, except from the homeless who are simply trying to survive a few nights from freezing temperatures. But it becomes bigger than that in the movie and during the production. Estevez shoots a lot of men locked up inside that library, and actually added real homeless in the area as extras. They were hanging around the library anyway so he hired them, and gave them clothes and food on top of pay. Nice going.
As the drama escalates, so does the dark comedy baring the ending with a couple of twists we did not see coming. One is a bit contrived and has to do with the Detective’s missing son. The other is how the potentially volatile situation is resolved.
Music is a big part of this film. Rhymefest plays Big George who calls himself a creative, not a rapper. The Grammy winner is listed as Che”Rhymefest” Smith for the music he delivers in this film. He and Micah Davis did the music heard in the film for the gritty scenes. And Estevez puts Johnny Nash’s song “I Can See Clearly Now” to good use in a scene you will not be able to forget.
Estevez packs the film with a lot of issues without preaching. They include civil disobedience, homelessness, libraries, politics, drugs, 2nd chances, social media, fake news. Normally these people are invisible and he does a good job shining a positive light on the whole situation. Know that there is some nudity, it’s not full nudity and will probably make you laugh. There’s a lot to like here between the covers of this library book. Check it out.
Greenwich Entertainment 1 hour 59 minutes PG-13
