BULLET IN THE BRAIN (2001) - ♦♦♦♦

Directed by - David Von Ancken

Written by - David Von Ancken (based on a short story by Tobias Wolff)

Starring - Tom Noonan, Dean Winters

"A BULLET FOR THE BRAIN is based on a TOBIAS WOLFF 1995 New Yorker article of the same name about an outspokenly critical writing teacher who allows his criticism to extend to his everyday life and soon learns why that is not a good idea. 

There is an air of social disenchantment about DAVID VAN ANCKEN's short film that also uses an effective borderline aggressive tone. It is effective also because of the decisively stylish approach that in its length is also stimulating, through a creatively snappy editing as well as sound design and cinematography. All of these lend to an eclectic vision that is as much strongly reflective upon its society as much as it is concerned with its leading character's near obsessive mindset. 

And it is TOM NOONAN's strong performance that ultimately, and successfully, ties everything together and even dictates the changes in tone of this psychologically dense film."

Drama, USA