Review of White Lightnin' (2009) by George K — 08 Apr 2010

Jesco White uses tap dancing to keep his demons at bay. At the tender age of six, he started getting high by huffing gasoline and stolen lighter fluid. Growing up, Jesco often found himself shuffling between reform schools, work camps, and his home in West Virginia-until his father, famous mountain dancer D. Ray White, taught him how to tap.

Black and white photography is used to great affect in 'White Lightnin'. The black and white is mixed with a very slight colour tint at times, notice the scene which Jesco confronts a group of bullies and the switch knife he is holding is blue and the rest of the shot in still in black and white. This give the film an overall impressive cinematography.

Eward Hogg is fine as the lead, selecting an interesting unhinged performance where you don't quite know when he will turn from a nice talented dancer to a violent individual. Also a special note must go to Owen Campbell who is impressive as the young Jesco. Sadly the only other character to get a worthy part is Carrie Fisher who is value for money as the the wife who abandons her family to party with the laudably unhinged Hogg.

The odd ball quality is somewhat miss leading, with the film sometimes varying off into madness, with the closing section of the film a prime example. Also the narration can get a bit too dependent on tell the story. Still these are minor irritations to an otherwise interesting at times individual piece of cinema.