Rubberneck Review
By David Kempler
Slowing Down to Watch Him Burn
Alex Karpovsky's "Rubberneck" is one of the surprises to appear in this year's Tribeca Film Festival. Karpovsky serves as director, writer, and star, and he excels in all three departments. This is a cleverly-crafted, anxiety-inducing foray into the mind of a seemingly mild and harmless man who works in a research lab.
When we first meet Paul (Karpovsky), he is at a company party and he clearly has a thing for Danielle (Jaime Ray Newman), a new hire at his place of work. Alcohol plays a major role in getting Danielle into his bed that evening. It's easy to understand his lust - at least to me - because she reminded me of when I first saw Elisabeth Shue on screen. Paul is quite pleased that he has bedded Danielle and is eager to turn this into a real relationship. Alas, Danielle tires quickly of him as he begins moving way too quickly for her taste. The fact that he isn't an Adonis also plays a role in her losing interest.
Paul accepts his fate of being a short pit stop for Danielle but continues to long for her, at a distance. One of the best things about "Rubberneck" is that Paul doesn't go all the way to nuts about the situation. His reaction is a mixture of slight frustration and resignation. He goes on dates with other women, but his thoughts always turn back to Danielle and he can muster no interest in another woman.
Everything changes when the lab hires a new man who is good looking and a little smoother with the ladies than Paul. This is when we see Paul beginning to show the first signs of losing control of his emotions, but Karpovsky still plays it cool, making sure to keep the pace at a slow burn, rather than turning it into a complete and immediate meltdown.
Eventually something has to give, though, and the way Karpovsky unfolds it is rewarding for its continued slow pace as he descends into his own demons of both his past and present. By the time all is revealed I was already totally hooked. Karpovsky has a good future, whether he chooses acting, writing, directing, or any combination of the three skills. Karpovsky's got the goods. This was easily one of my favorites of the festival and I suggest you find it.
