Review of Tape (2001) by James H — 23 May 2012

For those who enjoy single-setting, dialogue-based minimalist movies, Tape should rank high on their to-watch list. Reunited since Dead Poets Society, Ethan Hawke and Robert Sean Leonard, later joined by Uma Thurman, play old friends catching up since high school.

Nostalgia, however, soon disappears when Hawke brings up past, unresolved issues. The three actors do a good enough job. There is an rough, amateur feel to the movie, thanks to Richard Linklater's direction, that gives it authenticity, which is occasionally disrupted by questionable choices of cinematic techniques.

Still, where Tape goes wrong is not unforgivable, and the suspense is maintained well enough that the relief the payoff brings feels well-deserved.