Simon (Jason Andrews) is a bootlegger, a Rhythm Thief if you will. His job is to survive on the streets, often consuming nothing more than stolen food and vodka–and he sells bootleg cassette tapes on the corner of a busy New York City street. He often finds himself in harm's way, struggling to maneuver the deadly streets on which he operates–but Simon feels that he is up for this never-ending challenge. Will he survive the ruthless streets of New York, or will they swallow him whole before he ever truly establishes himself?
Rhythm Thief is a wild ride, an unpredictable journey of man–but through that unpredictability, through the extreme situations in which Simon finds himself, viewers are able to see themselves. That’s the key to Rhythm Thief’s success, Writers Christopher Grimm and Matthew Harrison being able to hone in on strange but understandable situations for each and every one of their viewers to appreciate.
There are two existential topics that I took away from Rhythm Thief: everyone has to look out for themselves and love can often be the downfall of even the greatest men. These ideas are ones that circulate the real world, endlessly, each and every day; and these ideas are the things that allow viewers from around the world to appreciate Rhythm Thief. Andrews is the vessel by which these ideas are expressed, and he brings them to life with great passion and honesty–vividly expressing each and every sentiment of the film. Simon is unique in the sense that he’s sort of an asshole, as his entire livelihood depends on being able to screw people out of their intellectual property, and yet viewers manage to find reasons to root for him. They find bits and pieces of his personality to be redeeming, and they understand that, in the grand scheme of his existence, he’s only human. He’s easily relatable, and his flaws, as prominent as they are, are able to be overlooked as a result of Grimm and Harrison’s writing, as well as Andrews’ ability to bring the character to life.
The realism present in Rhythm Thief is impeccable, and it allows viewers to relate to both the content and the characters. Each and every character on screen struggles with a series of issues: not enough money, unrequited love, etc.–and each and every issue is honest and real. Viewers are able to see pieces of themselves in these struggling individuals, and, without a doubt, everyone can find something to relate to. The ability of each and everyone involved in Rhythm Thief is incredible, and their love for the film, the script, and their counterparts can easily be seen from beginning to end. Andrews is a beautiful actor, never missing a beat–but the man that plays opposite him, Kevin Corrigan (Fuller), steals the show. He’s goofy, honest, and oddly down to earth. Corrigan brings the idea of realism to life. He stutters, he misses a word here and there, and while that may have made it into the film due to lack of time and budget, it adds to viewers’ ability to appreciate and identify with the characters on screen.
Keeping with the idea of realism, Harrison and Grimm, and Director of Photography Howard Krupa, track everyone on screen in a fashion that many may consider dizzying. As the cameras follow Simon, Fuller, and the others, viewers are thrown into the action, bouncing around, struggling to see things clearly–and this beautifully represents the reality of running aggressively down the busy New York streets. The hustle and bustle, along with constant anxiety that exists in the real world is so brilliantly represented throughout the course of Rhythm Thief.
Rhythm Thief is a low-budget indie film that exemplifies all that New York, the drag of daily life, and the struggle of simply being human is. It blends everything together in an in-your-face fashion that brings everything to life and pulls viewers into the story early on, never relenting and never letting them go. Rhythm Thief expresses exactly what indie filmmaking is and what its purpose is. It brings to life magical visuals that not only mesmerize, but mirror the real world in so many ways. Harrison and Corrigan are phenomenal, and they are the shining lights of the production, ensuring that everyone sees at least a little bit of themselves in every facet of Rhythm Thief.
Directed by Matthew Harrison.
Written by Christopher Grimm & Matthew Harrison.
Starring Jason Andrews, Eddie Daniels, Kevin Corrigan, Kimberly Flynn, Sean Hagerty, Mark Alfred, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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