Redemption begins at home|Mar. 20, 2021|United States|80 Min.|R
Genre: Action;Adventure;Biography;Crime;Drama;Mystery;Romance
Description: “Last Night in Rozzie,” released in 2021 and directed by Sean Gannet, is a compelling drama written by Boston native Ryan McDonough. The film was featured at the Independent Film Festival Boston on May 15. It tells the story of Ronnie Russo, a New York lawyer played by Neil Brown Jr., who is haunted by a traumatic event from his youth. Ronnie receives a call from his childhood best friend, Joey Donovan, who reveals he is terminally ill. Ronnie immediately travels to Roslindale, stopping first at Faulkner Hospital to see Joey, portrayed by Jeremy Sisto in a nuanced performance.
As Ronnie visits Joey, fragmented memories of a fateful night before he left the neighborhood resurface. Though the details are unclear, it’s evident something deeply troubling occurred, marking the last time Ronnie saw Joey. Seeing Joey in his hospital bed, visibly suffering, leaves Ronnie unsettled. Despite his grim condition, Joey jokes with Ronnie as though no time has passed, acknowledging his past mistakes and admitting his illness resulted from years of heavy drinking. Joey shares that he married Ronnie’s former crush, Pattie, and that she has forbidden him from seeing their ten-year-old son. Joey pleads with Ronnie to help arrange a meeting.
The story explores the rekindling of their long-dormant friendship, heightened by Joey’s terminal diagnosis, which adds urgency to their interactions. Ronnie feels compelled to fulfill Joey’s request, but an unspoken tension lingers between them, rooted in unresolved pain and buried secrets. As the narrative unfolds, the film gradually reveals the truth about the traumatic night and its lasting impact.
Cinematographer Matt Suter effectively captures Ronnie’s struggle to piece together his memories through evocative visuals. Ronnie also reconnects with Pattie, played by Nicky Whelan, who initially pretends not to remember him before teasing him about anonymous notes he wrote her as a teenager. Their chemistry remains, but it is complicated by their shared history with Joey and the secrets that bind them. The film delves into themes of regret, redemption, and the weight of the past.
Cast director: Sean Gannet
Cast actor: Neil Brown Jr., Jeremy Sisto, Nicky Whelan, Kevin Chapman
Original name: Last Night in Rozzie