When a lien is placed on a family business, and the newest owner, Jerome (Jacques De Silva) finds out that he owes more than a million dollars, he must find a way to either pay back his father’s loans or give up the business forever. The Umbrella Men is the story of a group of musicians as they put their heads together and attempt to solve this massive issue–and they settle on something incredibly drastic. The group determines that the best course of action is to rob a bank–and from here they will do whatever it takes to make sure their newest venture is successful.
Through all of the interesting aspects of The Umbrella Men, it seems that the goal of the filmmakers was simplicity. This isn’t simplicity in the sense that things seem underdeveloped, but rather in the sense that things are easily accessible for viewers. The sets are intricate, but still, they juxtapose a world that appears to constantly be falling apart. The sets appear to viewers as simple enough to invite them in, but well developed enough to say to viewers that they are looking at something plausible. The film feels a tad far-fetched at times–and that feels like the way in which Writers John Barker, Lev David, and Philip Roberts had planned to deliver comedy. The accessibility of the sets (and other aspects of the film) work well to bring balance to the ridiculousness of instances of the plot.
Comedy, while subtle, plays a pivotal role throughout the course of The Umbrella Men, and without it the luster that Barker and his team are able to create may not have lasted the entirety of the film. The entire cast is tasked with being incredibly subtle in their approach toward comedy, and, even bigger, they are tasked with ensuring that the intensity present throughout the film doesn’t become too overwhelming for viewers. Each and every actor possesses the ability to shine in their respective moments, and they create a wonderful tonal balance throughout The Umbrella Men.
Going along with the general simplicity of The Umbrella Men, the colors and tones present throughout the course of the film paint a picture that allows things to, again, feel simplistic and relatable–but, even more importantly, even-keeled and accessible. It would be harsh to say that the film’s aesthetic is drab–but the reality is that the colors are typically quite basic, expressing the sentiment that Barker wanted viewers to accept these aspects of the film, while still being able to look past them and focus on what’s most important–the narrative and the comedy. Barker finds unique and interesting ways to invite viewers into the pull of the film, and once they are in they are likely going to be unwilling to let go–sticking around until the very last second of the film.
There are aspects of The Umbrella Men that appear to be slightly derivative of The Town, and while these aspects still work for this film, being aware of the connections and similarities between the two films takes something away from the radiance of The Umbrella Men. It’s hard to create brand new content in today’s climate–as it seems more and more every day that nearly everything has been thought of. However, had Barker and his team veered just a little further from that aforementioned film, I believe that I would have had an even stronger appreciation for The Umbrella Men.
The Umbrella Men flows smoothly from beginning to end, and Barker does a wonderful job of creating relatable, understandable, and fully accessible content in his film. There are moments when I questioned the originality of what is brought to screen here, but the overall finished product is something that this cast and crew should be proud of. The Umbrella Men is a simple film that entices viewers throughout, and, without a doubt, this team has an affinity for filmmaking.
Written & Directed by John Barker.
Starring Jacques De Silva, Shamilla Miller, Keenan Arrison, Bronté Snell, June Van Merch, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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