Ice Grill,USA - Part 1 Review

     "Drugs. Sex. Gambling. All In A Day's Work." is the subtitle for the movie ICE GRILL, USA, which sets the tone of the film before you even hit play.  Local New Jersey filmmakers Greg Santaserieo and Mark Bernardi wrote and directed the drama that takes place in Atlantic City, where the movie was filmed,  as well as where they grew up.  I appreciate the regionalism and authenticity since I myself grew up about a half hour outside of the city of bright lights and dark alleys.  They do a fantastic job of using the resort city as it's own role in the movie as the characters shuffle through the environment trying to figure out how to make the best of their lives.  The life of money, night life, booze, girls, and the party never stopping is what is always offered but the line between good fun and illegal trouble is always blurred.  Especially when you live, work, play and survive in that environment all of your life.
     Auggie Logan, played by Connor Fox, is the man in the middle of the journey as he comes back to Atlantic City to embark on adulthood and make career decisions that will affect him the rest of his life.  He rekindles his relationships with his family along with long time friends who have never left.  Immediately, he's faced with two different avenues in which he knows the consequences of, but it's a matter of getting immediate satisfaction or what he knows to be the "safer" route.  Consistent pressure from both sides progresses as he plays the middle constantly juggling his own thoughts.  Does the promise of gorgeous arm candy, money, and respect make him cave to a life of watching over his shoulder, possibly jail, and even death or does he follow society's morals and climb the corporate ladder, pay taxes, and be "normal" even though that lacks the sex appeal and great times the former offers?  It's actually a pretty common life question that a lot of people probably face at some point, especially in a community such as Atlantic City or thousands of cities, towns across the country.  In these situations, it sometimes seems easier (and enjoyable) to sell drugs, quick cash, pop bottles and shorties, then it is to wake up at 6 am, do your 9 to 5, listening to crap from your boss, always feeling broke.
     The movie elevates the emotion when these options could possibly be the same thing.  Love, hate, pride, jealousy, …there is a thin line between such different emotions.  A lot of times, it can be the same thing that triggers both.  Auggie is presented with all these contrasts as the two lives he lives starts to become the same.  He's forced to make choices that will shape his future along with the people around him.  His brother and boss on one side of his casino job and his "boss" on the other side of his illegal life.  At the same time all this is going on, there's another driving force that affects everybody involved and affects all of their decisions.  That magnetic force is bombshell cocktail waitress, Claudia.  She plays her role to perfection as she is the main trophy of anyone she comes in contact with and she knows it. Like many situations, common sense loses to passion when matters of the heart are concerned, especially when she's wanted by many in an environment where image is everything.  Take the journey with Auggie, Claudia, and the rest of Atlantic City's finest, as he chooses his direction, the aftermath, and everything else in between.  
     This emotionally and though provocative movie is very refreshing and entertaining.  It brings new talent and creativity to the forefront of filmmaking.  I look forward to future projects from Enlightened Party Multimedia.  For more on Ice Grill,USA, click HERE for the interview with co-creator, writer, director, Greg Santarsiero, where he gives even a deeper look into the film and the movie making process.