ONE OF THESE DAYS – A Review by Jenn Rohm
In 1997 S. R. Bindler directed the documentary Hands on a Hardbody. It is about a 1995 auto dealership competition to win a truck. This documentary has a bit of a following with Quentin Tarantino recommending it as a “go-to” movie, and Robert Altman was working on a film when he passed. After the last competition held by the dealership in 2005, a musical was written and produced.
Bastian Gunther took inspiration from the above and has written/directed his version of the story in One of These Days. He is including the telling of the struggles in a rural southern town suffering from the current economy and what self-degradation people are willing to subject themselves to for a truck.
With all the subplots included and how it was edited One of These Days became a drawn-out and long-winded tale. Examples are the early scene with the local ladies in an above-ground pool, Joan’s, Carrie Preston, multiple interactions with her mother, handing out snacks at a bible study, and then her ‘met on the internet’ date. Had these moments been left out I believe the flow would have improved. The last act had me wondering if the film would ever end. There were other places where some of the nuggets could have been inserted earlier in the film. This would have allowed the scene where Joan, Carrie Preston, is speaking after the competition is over to provide a strong ending.
There are things I did appreciate and like. The choice of how to film the competition scenes without it being 100% scripted gave the actors freedom to improv and create a more authentic connection between the audience and competitors. Showing a conversation between Joe, Kyle Parson, and his friend using sign language was refreshing. And the choice for the opening and closing credits background to be Google Maps search with the local view (zooming, panning, going further along the path) supported the suffering economy of the community without adding to the exploitation of lower-income areas in the United States.
This is not one that I can recommend going out of your way to see. It is a film that could lead to some interesting conversations.
Director: Bastian Gunther
Written By: Bastian Gunther
Cast: Joe Cole, Carrie Preston, Callie Hernandez
MPAA Rating: not yet rated – male and female nudity, sex, smoking, mature language
Genres: Drama
Selig Rating: 2.5 stars
Runtime: 1h 59m
Release Date: April 14, 2023
Trailer: ONE OF THESE DAYS official trailer
The Selig Rating Scale:
5 Stars – Excellent movie/show, well worth the time and price.
4 Stars – Good movie/show
3 Stars – OK movie/show
2 Stars – Well there was nothing else…
1 Star – Total waste of time.
