Check Out the Trailer

Set in the Caymen Island, this crime yarn jumps on the typical trend of weaving the stories of various characters together. However, the editing courses create a narrative that takes too long in developing its main characters, result in a style that is more distracting than clever.

The film opens with a brief scene with main characters Shy (Orlando Bloom, ELIZABETHTOWN) and Andrea (Zoe Saldana, THE TERMINAL) in an embrace in the ocean. Then we jump to the tale of corrupt businessman Carl Ripley (Bill Paxton, FRALITY), who must flee to the Caymens with his daughter Pippa (Agnes Bruckner, BLUE CAR), who is furious that they are moving again. She meets local small time hustler Fritz (Victor Rasuk, RAISING VICTOR VARGAS), who takes her to a party at the house of thug Richie Rich (Razaaq Adoti, BLACK HAWK DOWN), who Fritz owes money to. After Pippa and Fritz’s story comes to a climax, we move back to Shy’s story and learn that he works for Andrea’s rich father (Robert Wisdom, STORYTELLING), who doesn’t approve of her relationship with the older white boy. So does her brother Hammer (Anthony Mackie, MILLION DOLLAR BABY) who hangs with Richie Rich and thinks of himself as a gangster.

Other characters include Shy’s best friend Kimo (Mpho Koaho, SAW II), Ripley’s money launderer Mr. Allen (Stephen Dillane, THE HOURS), Mr. Allen’s son and Shy’s friend Patrick (MASTER AND COMMANDER), the treasury agent (Bobby Cannavale, THE STATION AGENT) and abusive cop Powell (Jake Weber, 2004’s DAWN OF THE DEAD). Fleshing out all the characters gives areas of the film a depth that enhances the over all world. Writer/director Frank E. Flowers (SWALLOW) brings the Caymen Islands to life, bringing an original color to the story that distinguishes it from similar crime tales.

However, the early editing choices really hurt the overall film, because it seems to be playing catch up for well past the halfway point. The Romeo and Juliet-like relationship between Shy and Andrea is compelling and Bloom and Andrea do fine jobs. However, none of the other stories are nearly as compelling creating a lag when we are dealing with Bloom and Andrea. As well, the connections between the various tales don’t bring increased tension to the core characters’ story. With so many characters, good characters like Shy’s friend Kimo get lost while the film tries to develop lesser characters like Patrick.

Despite, these narrative flaws, the core story, as well as Pippa’s journey, is compelling enough that the film keeps our attention. In addition, we come to care for Shy and want to see how his story will play out. Additionally, all the side plots add to the creation of the unique Caymen Island setting, which is just as intriguing as any of the characters’ stories. All and all, Flowers takes risks and missteps from time to time, yet pulls off an original enough production that one can forgive the weaknesses because its strength are so fascinating.