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Snow on tha Bluff follows Curtis Snow, a thief and drug dealer based in the Atlanta neighborhood called "The Bluff". When he steals a camera from a group of college students, Snow starts documenting his life and doings with his crew, which include drinking, playing pool, stealing from rival dealers, and running from the police.
Shot in the "found footage" style, the film is unique for putting a real-life in the forefront in Snow (portraying a fictionalized version of him), and giving us a glimpse of what is life like for him and his friends and neighbors. Although the film is not overly and explicitly violent, it does create an unsettling sense of dread surrounding these "real life" characters and the way they live.
At one point, Snow casually shares some stories from his childhood; stories of his first shooting or how he saw his mom, a drug addict, being shot in the street. Later on, as he sits at a table, prepping drugs to sell, he shares stories of how his uncle would be doing the same thing while he ran around as a kid, all while Snow's kid runs around perpetuating the cycle.
We can say that Snow doesn't care, but Snow doesn't know anything else. So as we see him and his crew calmly boasting firearms, shooting people, and slingin' dope, all while little kids run around and put their hands in piles of blow and crack, it's like a bizarro alternate universe that we wish didn't exist. But it does; a universe where the lines between right or wrong are blurred, and the only thing that matters is what you need and if you can get it right then and there.
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SNOW ON THA BLUFF
(2011, Russell)
(2011, Russell)
"Ain't no right or no wrong way. There's the *need* way. When you need something or you got to have something, then one way you're gonna get it right then and there. That the only way I know, really."
Snow on tha Bluff follows Curtis Snow, a thief and drug dealer based in the Atlanta neighborhood called "The Bluff". When he steals a camera from a group of college students, Snow starts documenting his life and doings with his crew, which include drinking, playing pool, stealing from rival dealers, and running from the police.
Shot in the "found footage" style, the film is unique for putting a real-life in the forefront in Snow (portraying a fictionalized version of him), and giving us a glimpse of what is life like for him and his friends and neighbors. Although the film is not overly and explicitly violent, it does create an unsettling sense of dread surrounding these "real life" characters and the way they live.
At one point, Snow casually shares some stories from his childhood; stories of his first shooting or how he saw his mom, a drug addict, being shot in the street. Later on, as he sits at a table, prepping drugs to sell, he shares stories of how his uncle would be doing the same thing while he ran around as a kid, all while Snow's kid runs around perpetuating the cycle.
We can say that Snow doesn't care, but Snow doesn't know anything else. So as we see him and his crew calmly boasting firearms, shooting people, and slingin' dope, all while little kids run around and put their hands in piles of blow and crack, it's like a bizarro alternate universe that we wish didn't exist. But it does; a universe where the lines between right or wrong are blurred, and the only thing that matters is what you need and if you can get it right then and there.
Grade: