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Movie review
By Rich Stromberg

Conflict of interest disclosure: I know the writer/director, producer and several of the actors on a casual basis, although I have never hung out with them. I worked as a DJ at KRUA radio station with actor Kyle Johnston and had a class with him at school. I knew actor Jared Fink through the University of Alaska Anchorage Outdoor Club. My appreciation of the film is no doubt tainted by my familiarity with some of the cast as well the setting - the UAA campus. That having been said, I will try to be as objective as possible.

The first thing you need to know is that "Beekeeping" is a dialogue movie. The script is integral to enjoying the movie - as it should be with most movies, though it is less common these days. If you need to see shit^[1] blow up to be entertained, this is not the movie for you. The second thing you need to know is that "Beekeeping" is not currently rated, but it would receive an R-rating for language. How many times do they say "fuck?" Far more than "Saving Private Ryan", but much less than "Midnight Run" with Robert DeNiro.

“Beekeeping” is the third and latest movie from Anchorage-based Scarface Productions. Written and directed by Bryant Mainord and produced by David Turnbull, the film takes place at Statham County University where Mike, one of four roommates, learns that he owes $1,500 in late video fees. Unable to tap into his student loan to enroll in the next semester, Barrett, one of Mike’s roommates comes up with a scam by which each roommate starts three school clubs, which are each eligible for $125 from the student activity fund. When the dean catches on to their scam, he offers them a choice: expulsion or turn all of their phony clubs into bona-fide ones.^[2] The movie premiered in Anchorage in April.

I place this movie with “Clerks”^[3] and “The Brothers McMullen” in that the basis of any good movie is a solid script. “Beekeeping” doesn’t go for the shock the way “Clerks” does.^[4] It’s its own movie. They don’t have any known actors. The script carries the movie and is where the pearls lie.

This is the first Scarface movie to have a director of photography and Jesse Warfield brings a more polished feel than the two preceding movies. Advances in editing software no doubt help. The driving shot, montage scenes and nighttime scenes help to break up the dorm and classroom sets. The movie is no Garden State. No crane shots and no slow-mos of Natalie Portman while listening to The Shins, but Warfield has given Scarface a step up from their previous films.

The soundtrack fits well, but is still in flux till licenses can be ironed out.

The acting is solid with a few exceptions on the up and down side. I know and like the guy and it pains me to say it, but some of Kyle Johnston's scenes are a bit stiff. He's best when he's in the studio as DJ Keyes, which should come natural to him, but some, but not all, of his other dialogue scenes are lacking. He’s fine when playing off other actors, but there are few times when it seems like he and Jay Gourley are reading their lines from a white board held off-camera.

Gourley plays the part as the slacker, Mike, to a tee. He doesn’t have to over sell the fact that he is just living in the moment of being a college student.

Jared Fink is not convincing as Travis, the gay guy. But he is funny and making you laugh is what counts.

John Whitlock is the schemer Barrett. He clearly has the respect of the crew who love to watch him riff for the camera. He’s the Bill Murray of the group. Just let him go, keep the camera rolling and do the rest at editing.

Then there’s Bryant Mainord as Gary. If Whitlock is the Bill Murray, Mainord is the John Belushi. Watch him in scenes where he is simply reacting to other’s dialogue. He has the potential to be one of the greats. His timing is nearly flawless.

As for the secondary actors and actresses, most give solid performances. A few fall flat. The club scene in the library is priceless for the actors' performance and setting. John Hughes would be pleased.

Compared with other movies in the mainstream, I’d rate the film as two-and-a-half out of four stars.^[5] “Beekeeping” is not as slick of a film as most people are used to and there are a few dead spots in the acting and the movie flow. When you consider that the film was made for the cost of an HD camera and about $400 in incidental expenses, it deserves a handicapped rating of three out of four stars.^[6] A fine example of guerilla-style cinema.

You should check this movie out. Buy a copy and get a group of friends together to watch it. Better yet, see if there are any film festivals in your area. Contact them to see about bringing it to the festival. It’s definitely festival quality.

To learn more about "Beekeeping", visit myspace.

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