Murder and Cocktails

Murder-and-Cocktails
Murder and Cocktails

There are moments in cinema where one cannot see the connection of two people in love. Aside from such narratives that are meant to be the center of attention, it is more of an annoyance. Instead of getting into the story itself, the audience is engrossed on the reasons why those two characters are sharing the same screen. But, for directors Henry Barrial and writer Ron Jackson, it would not be the case for Murder And Cocktails. The central couple of the movie makes perfect sense and no one needs to wonder about their relationship. Even when they are at each other’s throats the leads make instant sense with each other.

Nick (Jason Bernardo) is a screenwriter but he has only had past fame. He has not sold a script for a while now so it’s not possible too for him to have good finances. His wife Lana (Jessica Neufeld) is a former soap opera actress who got written off the show. In her new role as an editor, she’s doing great. Nick begins streaming their life around the house or images of their luxurious apartment and pouring cash. This comes as a shock to Lana. On the first live night, the couple hears a pain shot in the closed hallway. And it was Detective Barrett (Thurman Dalrymple) who brought the news of his death to the two, a man they had invited for dinner.

Nick and Lana are shocked at the incompetence and insensitivity of the cop. So, they decide to go around their floor and ask all the people on it who the killer is. In order to accomplish this, Nick and Lana invite each neighbor for a cocktail hour. Will they discover who the murderer is from the people who live next to them? Will Nick finally get to sell the script he has been working on, the most current one?

Murder And Cocktails may get by on the joint chemistry between Bernardo and Neufeld only. They are absolutely the right complement to one another. There are plenty of witty comebacks and flirty rants between the two, and they look real. Of course, it helps that Nick and Lana do crack each other up and joke around, but it is in that charming way in which he can joke with her and she with him but heaven forbid anyone else tries to do so. Individually both Bernardo and Neufeld are quite impressive as well. They make their respective characters believable, and they possess excellent timing. But it is as a pair that they are at their most impressive.

The fun extends to their co stars as well. He’s hysterical, in a good way as an overworked and unappreciated detective, Dalrymple. Ricardo Molina is funny playing Esteban a character who faintly resembles a too tough real estate agent. Lucy Boryer makes a convincing and slightly unsettling Rose, who is a soap fan obsessed with Lana. Finally, Brian Lally is fantastic as the ill tempered sergeant Russell. Brianna Zepeda does wonderful as a relatively seraphic Alex with much deduced comedic subtext.

Barrial also feels free to place his camera set angles beyond those that pertain to the area where the insider look to the apartment is shot. In Murder And Cocktails, however, the screen smoothly shifts from its fixed live capture mode to the more mobile variant. Thankfully, moving back and forth does not disrupt the pace or tone of the picture.

Neufeld and Bernardo have an undeniable chemistry and their playful banter instantly convinces the viewers of this couple’s past without forcing the story down their throats. It is the same with Neufeld and Bernardo and it is with the remaining stars of Murder And Cocktails. Also, their co-stars are terrific in their parts and make the smart script interesting. Barrial does great in maintaining the humorous style and Johnson does well in wrapping up the interesting plot.

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