Dickinson’s lackluster ‘Urchin’ struggles to convince
Derivative and simplistic, Harris Dickinson’s writing and directing debut, “Urchin,” is a prime example of a privileged, out-of-touch filmmaker presenting an equally privileged and out-of-touch audience a sanitized glimpse at homelessness and addiction, subjects neither clearly knows much about.
Having lived in Boston for 30 years, I’ve seen my share of lost souls ravaged by drugs and mental illness. But never once have I spotted one as well-equipped (he owns a cellphone!) and resourceful as Mike, the subject of Dickinson’s rose-colored profile of an unhoused junky fighting to get straight. As played by the baby-faced Frank Dillane, the backpack-toting Mike is closer in resemblance to a shabby-chic college student than a strung-out gutter-dweller.
Not for a second do you believe the traumatic backstory Dickinson creates for Mike, who we learn has been homeless and dopesick for five years. If that were true, would Mike look this fresh-faced and fit? In the person of Dillane, the casually dressed, tousled-haired Mike would be more at home on the cover of the Abercrombie and Fitch spring catalog. It’s hardly the look of a guy who has been sleeping on the seedier streets of London for half a decade.
Was Dickinson, who casts himself as our hero’s frenemy, Nathan, afraid Mike would be unable to earn our sympathy if he looked like an actual homeless person? Even when he’s panhandling, Dillane fails to convince, as Mike’s half-assed come-ons are so lame that not a single passerby coughs up a pence. No wonder he’s forced to sucker punch a good Samaritan (Okezie Morro) to pilfer a watch he hocks for a pittance. But on this day, he won’t get a chance to spend his spoils because two cops are waiting around the corner to shuffle him off to prison.
We catch up with Mike seven months later as he meets with his probation supervisor, who lands him a job as a short-order cook and facilitates a temporary stay in a nearby hostel. This leads to the only part of the movie that works, as Mike successfully battles through a series of hiccups in a determined fight to stay clean. He even finds a couple of mates in coworkers, Ramona (Karyna Khymchuk) and Chanelle (Shonagh Marie), who treat him to a joyous night out at karaoke.
As often is the case with recovering addicts, Mike’s flirtation with sobriety is tenuous at best. One unexpected setback can cancel out all that hard work literally overnight. And Dickinson’s writing hits its stride as Mike’s old, familiar demons return to haunt him. And not even a brief romance with the lovely, but fiercely independent, Andrea (Megan Northam), can slow the inevitable, setting up a truthful, but somewhat surprising, ending.
For the most part, Dickinson’s writing is superior to his skills – or lack thereof – as a director. Many of his visual flourishes are borrowed from other, better films, such as when the camera takes a subterranean dive, a la “Blue Velvet,” to flash through colorful patterns reminiscent of “2001: A Space Odyssey” before swooping through a long tunnel that deposits Mike in a beautifully lit crevice. It’s shot nicely by director of photography Josśe Deshaies. But what the heck does it mean? And what purpose does it serve?
Then there are the moments that are laughably on the nose, like the image of water circling a shower drain, or Mike and his friends singing Atomic Kitten’s “Whole Again” in the karaoke bar. It borders on amateurish. Yet, inexplicably, “Urchin” is earning almost widespread praise. But I’m at a loss to understand why. After having recently rewatched Mike Leigh’s marvelous “Naked,” featuring an off-putting character similar to Mike, it’s clear “Urchin” pales in comparison. So, do yourself a favor and skip this dud and get “Naked.” I guarantee you’ll have more fun.
Movie review
Urchin
Rated: Not rated
Cast: Frank Dillane, Harris Dickinson, Megan Northam and Okezie Morro
Director: Harris Dickinson
Writer: Harris Dickinson
Runtime: 111 minutes
Where: Currently in theaters (limited), going wider Oct. 17
Grade: C
