Set in Melbourne, Chris Pahlow’s Play It Safe is an indie film about a 26 year old keyboardist, Jamie (portrayed with understated but definite warmth by Nicholas Kato) who has dedicated the last six years of his life to his band, Propaganda Machine. But they’re going nowhere, are fed up with each other and decide to call it a day. Jamie is attracted to his good friend Sarah (Maya Aleksandra) and she to him, but when she asks him to play his original music at her art exhibition he demurs (an odd decision for someone who says he lives for music and is used to touring) and she gives up on him. His dad is disgruntled with him, sick of lending him money and wants Jamie to finish his law degree. Jamie gets a job teaching piano by numbers in a school where he’s expected to stick to the curriculum and where creativity is stifled. All struggling artists will relate.
One of the film’s highlights is the character of Jamie’s quirky over-affectionate ‘idiot-around-the-house’ Jefferson (comic writer and performer Alasdair Tremblay-Burchill) who delivers a rap/crooning lounge mash-up about being an accountant; his voice and delivery work very well. The film is shot in black and white which lends an elegance to the shots of Melbourne; it’s also a gift to the sensitive features of the lead actor, particularly in the scene towards the end where he’s teaching music to refugee kids and where you can see how he’s found his stride.
Jamie’s a sweet character but annoyingly passive. Fortunately, character arc prevails and we finally see Jamie take a stand for what he really wants. Play It Safe plays out in a minor key, which lends charm but can sometimes lack energy. Perhaps being self-consciously subtle in style has robbed Play It Safe of some necessary dynamism or emotional affect? An over-reliance on dialogue and a somewhat pedestrian approach to cinematography results in a film where the mood is even and we only get mid-range ups and downs. Camera angles are not much varied and scenes are often composed of one or two people facing each other or one person more or less in the middle of the frame; there’s a predictability to the cinematographic approach that means we don’t get to feel real tension in this story about following one’s bliss versus conforming for the sake of security. And the emotional range of the characters is often played too quietly.
For all that, Play it Safe is a strong local debut (although one rating very low on the Bechel test), clearly inspired by Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig, and is a significant contribution to the story of the Melbourne music scene. Over 20 Melbourne musical acts contributed to the score, including Mantra & Nathan Liow, Lower Spectrum, Speed Painters, Brothers Hand Mirror, Ron Rude, Aaron Choulai, Polo Club, Aoi, DOS4GW, Yes/No/Maybe, Patinka Cha Cha, Dyl Thomas & Must, Spacecadet Lullabies, Merc Swazey X Nettsmoney, Villains, Big Scary and Gus Rigby. Music lovers will be happy.
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.
Play It Safe
Directed by Chris Pahlow
Written by Jack White and Chris Pahlow
Cast includes Nicholas Kato, Maya Aleksandra, Christine Lui, Alasdair Tremblay-Birchall, Clayton Jacobson, Spencer Gilgacz and Kane Felsinger
Available to rent or buy via www.playitsafemovie.com
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