Up and Down drops us right into the weight room, following an unnamed weightlifter (Aaron Latta-Morissette) as he moves through his usual lifting routine. When his spotter, Giovanni (Giovanni Ore), begins asking him invasive questions, the lifter must dive deep into his own mind in order to come to terms with his struggles. These struggles quickly rise to the surface, his routine is thrown off track, and the ensuing moments will be pivotal.
A simple movie about weightlifting quickly turns to something far more psychological, driven almost entirely by emotion. Latta-Morissette is the catalyst for emotion throughout the course of Up and Down, and it becomes abundantly clear that there is more to this meat head than just muscle. Beneath the surface of this character is a heart that’s aching, one that’s struggling to come to terms with his reality–and Latta-Morissette does a phenomenal job of bringing this to life in a way that’s easily understood. Without ever coming right out and saying it directly, viewers understand his struggles, they know where he’s coming from and what he’s going through. With this combination of writing by Luke Masella and acting by Latta-Morissette, this character comes to life vibrantly, and he’s brilliant.
The lifter is clearly pained–not necessarily physically, but emotionally, and viewers see a series of close up shots that aim to capture that pain. Director of Photography Agustina Biasutto uses those close up shots to pull viewers into the lifter’s orbit, to invite them into his world and see how and what he’s feeling. Much of the reason those shots are successful is because Latta-Morissette does such a wonderful job of exuding emotion, but this choice is risky beyond what the film’s lead is able to bring to the table. Up and Down is intimate, and Biasutto and Masella aim to be inviting, allowing viewers to see every intimate detail of the lifter’s personality. This cinematic choice pays off, allowing viewers to feel along with the lead character–and that emotion shines throughout the entirety of the film.
The intimacy present in Up and Down allows viewers to take part in the emotional journey of the lifter. Being part of that emotional journey appeals to viewers, because we feel what the characters on screen do–making it much more relevant, entertaining, and much easier to appreciate. In a way, while everything is still welcoming, the up-close-and-personal nature of Up and Down is uncomfortable–and that feels intentional. This crew wants viewers to feel the discomfort that the lifter and Giovanni would be feeling in the moment, because that makes the film more personal–and I was able to feel the pain that the lifter felt (it hurts, but it works wonderfully for the film).
I’m far from a gym rat; as a matter of fact, I don’t think I’ve been to a gym in nearly fifteen years. I don’t know what goes on in a gym setting (other than weight lifting of course), but Up and Down does such a wonderful job of inviting viewers into this setting, showing them what takes place, and then turning that on its head–throwing an emotional wrench into the mix. Wonderfully written, impeccably acted, and brilliantly emotional–facts about Up and Down. It never falters–all it does is get stronger as it goes.
Written & Directed by Luke Masella.
Starring Aaron Latta-Morissette & Giovanni Ore.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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