Tercer Grado (Geoffry Cowper, 2015): Spain

Reviewed by Bryan Austin Gillison. Viewed at the Santa Barbara Film Festival 2016.

If you are looking for highly stylized big budget action flick with an indie film’s heart and attention to emotion you have arrived at just the right place. Geoffrey Cowper’s sprawling redemption story follows Mark Rodriguez on his “Day Release” from prison, which happens to be the english translation of the film’s title. The director’s choice to use still meditative shots in some scenes highlights the frenetic action in the scenes that follow. There is a real attention to the characters and their emotional backstories in this film that separates it from the often plastic feel of a big budget action movie.

While minding his own business Mark Rodriguez witnesses a mall get robbed in a spectacular and violent manner. We then are taken on the chase of our lives as Mark negotiates how he might catch up with the robbers. We encounter corrupt police and profiling. We witness scams and high speed chases. The cinematography is gorgeous and exceeds expectations of a lower budget action film.

This film is chock full of moving performances and stunning chase scenes. My adrenaline was pumping for the entire ride. The influence of american cinema is clear in the fast pace of the action sequences, but you can recognize the european roots in the slower more subtle moments. Mark makes the perfect anti-hero to lead us through this visceral journey. The film is well balanced and has an intriguing plot. I would recommend it to anyone who is ready for a wild ride.