At a dinner party, five unique individuals learn about one another, and as they begin to let their guards down their deepest, darkest secrets will rise to the surface. Socks and Cakes tells the story of how a little alcohol and wet clothes can cause the deepest of conversations. Whether or not those conversations are warranted (or well-received) is yet to be determined.
I struggled so much with the acting. At one point or another I was forced to question the validity of the acting from everyone except for Timothy J. Cox. However, there were moments when each of the actors had the ability to shine, and they did. Seeing each of the actors struggle with conveying emotion and accurately purveying all that is asked of them turns me off to aspects of the fim. It makes me question whether or not they were the right choices for these roles, or if the budget, or some other issue entirely, is the cause for these casting mishaps. Again, there are glimmers of hope that exist in each and every actor’s performance, so, I’m certainly not saying they lack talent, but it can sometimes be difficult to find throughout the course of Socks and Cakes. So, my struggle isn’t so much the film being bad, because that’s not entirely true, but with the fact that I couldn’t fully understand what went wrong.
The writing is something spectacular, however. Socks and Cakes tells the story of some intoxicated individuals spilling their guts, and never have I heard anything more true. In a world where alcohol often reigns king, the phrase “drunk words are sober thoughts” is absolutely true. Furthermore, as COVID-19 still remains ever present in our day to day, individuals appear to be more vulnerable than ever before. Sure, Socks and Cakes was released in 2010, but it may have been a bit ahead of its time. I’ve been in those situations when, for seemingly no legitimate reason, I begin to feel vulnerable, but somehow comfortable enough to express how I’m feeling; that’s the situation depicted throughout Socks and Cakes. It’s incredibly relatable, and such an overwhelming feeling to know that this experience isn’t one that only I’ve dealt with. That sentiment is what the writing brings to life; the very idea that you’re not alone, and that somehow everything's going to be alright.
The existence of the fourth wall is something that often twists and contorts the reality of a film. As characters on screen express their understanding of the existence of their audience, a level of comedy is inevitably created. When Harry Mogulevsky (Cox) breaks that fourth wall he invites viewers into Socks and Cakes and immediately develops comedy that had not yet existed in the film. In addition to that comedy it becomes apparent that this film isn’t simply made for entertainment, but that the aforementioned messages are intentionally geared toward the audience (rather than them being happy accidents).
The genius combination of writing and understanding of the fourth wall creates a film that is both entertaining and relevant. There’s no questioning whether or not writer-director Antonio Padovan has talent, as it’s seen throughout each and every facet of Socks and Cakes. Again, the acting leaves a lot to be desired, but each of the actors in the film contain something great inside of them--I truly believe that. There are moments of brightness that shine through in each of their performances, but the voyage becomes frustrating at times as a result of their failures. Socks and Cakes contains an important message even if the journey toward understanding is a tad rocky.
Written & Directed by Antonio Padovan.
Starring Timothy J. Cox, Kirsty Meares, Jeff Moffitt, Ben Prayz, & Alex Vincent.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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