The Beautiful Ones

The Beautiful Ones, released in 2017, is a gritty, suspenseful film that utilises a neo-noir aesthetic, with urban backdrops, saturated colours, and a unique fusion of genres. Directed by Jesse V. Johnson, the movie stars Ross McCall, Brian Tee and Fernanda Andrade, and features a compendium of action, love, family feud, crime, and intense drama.

In this film, Johnson, a seasoned stuntman, effectively blends a dynamic visual style with a narrative rife with familiar crime tropes. He gets the most out of his cast, most notably the compelling performances from the leads Ross McCall, Brian Tee, and Fernanda Andrade.

The Beautiful Ones opens with the charm and pace of a high-stakes crime thriller. It centres around Gabriel Tanaka or Gabe (played by Ross McCall), an enigmatic, charismatic, and somewhat shady character. As an underworld debt collector, Gabe's life is a menagerie of threats, violence, and looming danger.

Ross McCall's superb portrayal of Gabe Tanaka hones in on the character's complexities, blurring the line between protagonist and antagonist, adding a multidimensionality that is a nod to classic film noir. McCall’s compelling performance ensures that audiences are engaged and invested in Gabe’s story despite his dubious moral compass.

Brian Tee plays Yakuza operative Cass, Gabe's brother. Firmly entrenched in the criminal underworld and the family business, Cass is a well-layered character who is torn between loyalty to his Yakuza roots and his genuine love for his brother. Engaging viewers with a potent mix of menace and heart, Brian Tee makes Cass a believable, conflicted character, whose desperate struggle for survival becomes a focal point in the plot.

Fernanda Andrade plays the character Serena, a woman who becomes unexpectedly entangled in the brothers' war, resulting in a significant shift in the narrative. Andrade delivers a nuanced performance that adds depth to Serena, transforming her into a heroine of her own rightful dimension rather than a mere damsel in distress.

The narrative seamlessly oscillates between crime and a haunting family saga. Although on the surface, "The Beautiful Ones" may come across as a classic crime movie, under the surface, it’s a complex drama exploring the dynamics of family loyalties, individual sacrifices, and love amidst a world of crime. The movie also touches upon themes of betrayal, exploring how love can both cause it and heal its wounds.

Under Johnson’s exemplary direction, the film showcases intricate, well-choreographed fight scenes, combined with a neo-noir visual style that sets it apart from its genre contemporaries. Each frame is constructed with intention and carries its own weight, contributing to a larger, engrossing narrative.

Throughout the movie, Gabriel's journey and how he navigates through a fluid moral landscape form the crux of the storyline. The narrative is complemented by a masterfully designed score, which heightens the suspense and adds depth to the drama, while also underscoring the melancholy that permeates many of the scenes.

The Beautiful Ones explores the notion of survival in a world fraught with danger, the necessity of making morally ambiguous choices, and the constant struggle to emerge out of the shadows. It’s a tightly-woven narrative filled with intense moments, intricate characters, and high-stakes drama, wrapped in a visually striking cinematic package.

Overall, The Beautiful Ones is a gripping noir-drama that dives deep into the underbelly of LA's criminal world. The movie is a testament to Johnson's expertise as a director. The compelling performances by McCall, Tee, and Andrade, paired with a captivating story, bring a fresh perspective to a familiar genre, making it a must-watch for audiences who appreciate crime dramas that explore complex human relationships.