Drunktown's Finest
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Drunktown's Finest
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Drunktown's Finest is a drama about three young Native American characters and their struggles. One of the characters is transgender (played by a real-life transgender actress) who works selling sexual favors. No nudity is shown, but there's strong sexual suggestion and innuendo, including simulated oral sex. A man kisses the transgender woman at a party and flips out when he discovers the truth. A man gives a young boy a sip of beer and slaps him, and there's punching and fighting, with some blood shown. Guns are shown and fired. Language is very strong, with many uses of "f--k" and "s--t," plus "bitch" and "c--k." Heavy drinking is shown, with characters stumbling drunk. Amid all of the mature material, though, the movie has worthy messages about body image and learning responsibility and self-respect.
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What's the Story?
In Dry Lake, New Mexico, three Navajo characters are struggling. "Sick Boy" (Jeremiah Bitsui) is about to leave for the Army to support his pregnant wife (Elizabeth Frances), but he can't seem to keep himself from drinking and getting into trouble. Nizhoni (Morningstar Angeline Wilson) lives with her adoptive white Christian parents and is going to college, but she wants to learn more about her real family. And Felixia (Carmen Moore) is a transgender woman living with her grandparents and earning money turning tricks; she dreams of being a model for the annual Women of the Navajo calendar. Eventually all of the characters reach turning points and must decide who they are and where they're going.
Is It Any Good?
DRUNKTOWN'S FINEST has some awkward, amateur moments here and there, mostly in some of the line readings and in some of the generic plot setups and payoffs. But writer-director Sydney Freeland (making in her feature debut) makes her passion deeply felt, and it's very refreshing to see the lives of Native Americans portrayed onscreen with such sympathy. It's easy to forgive the movie its shortcomings and tumble headfirst into the characters' lives.
The movie has a languid, hazy feel that allows for little moments spent with the characters, getting to know them. Bitsui, who had a supporting role on Breaking Bad, fares the best in his performance. Wilson has a lovely, fresh-faced innocence, and Moore -- who's transgender in real life -- brings an appealing combination of self-awareness and self-value to her role. Overall, it's a goodhearted movie that you want to root for.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the drinking in Drunktown's Finest. How is it portrayed? What makes the characters drink? Are there realistic consequences for their drinking?
How is the transgender character treated in the movie? How does she view herself? How is she viewed by other characters? Does she have body image issues?
How much violence is shown? Does it seem necessary or excessive? How does its impact compare to what you might see in a thriller or horror movie? Which has more impact, and why?
Movie Details
- In theaters: February 20, 2015
- On DVD or streaming: November 3, 2015
- Cast: Jeremiah Bitsui, Carmen Moore, Morningstar Angeline Wilson
- Director: Sydney Freeland
- Studio: Indion Entertainment
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 94 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: March 30, 2022
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