Set in the belly of Los Angeles' criminal underworld, Arc is the story of Paris Pritchert, a former police officer turned drug dealer and addict, who embarks on a quest to find a missing child in the hope of redeeming his eroding character. The only catch is, like all addicts, Paris' confidence completely relies on the drugs in his system and -- in this case -- his firm belief that he can succeed in his mission if he can just stay high 24/7 and alive long enough to see it through. To aid in the endeavor, Paris enlists the help of Maya Gibbs, an African American prostitute versed not only in the language of the street, but also in the words of Maya Angelou and Nadine Gordimer. And together, the path of this dysfunctional duo crosses with those of the child's parents, a doctor with a penchant for soliciting "Street Boys", a self-ascribed King Of Porn, a drug supplier with a gift for making impeccable hors d'oeuvres, and a hardened cop with more scams than the most adept street hustler. ... Written by

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Steelcitybelle from United States
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I had the privilege of viewing ARC, and the first thing that came to mind was that the trailer did not do this movie justice. When I originally saw the small clip, I knew it looked like a gripping film that I wanted to see. However, I was only a few minutes in to the feature when I suddenly realized that I was in for a real treat! Written and directed by the ingenious Robert Ethan Gunnerson, ARC takes place in the town of Los Angeles, and focuses in on it's more sordid side as a former police officer turned drug addict searches for a missing boy in hopes to redeem his character before his 30th birthday. Using a variety of color schemes throughout the film, Robert not only lures you in visually, but he uses the effects to add a depth to the film that I don't think could have been achieved otherwise.

Now while the cinematography is what originally lured me in to the film, it was the character driven story lines and superb acting that kept me on the edge of my seat. I found it rather interesting that more than once, I felt like I was invading these character's lives. A sort of, fly on the wall, if you will. Robert Ethan Gunnerson did an amazing job of bringing his characters to life, and I look forward to his future projects. He definitely has a bright future ahead of him in the entertainment industry.

Taking the starring role, Peter Facinelli (The Big Kahuna, Scorpion King, Fastlane) delivered a first rate performance the former police officer turned drug addict, Paris Pritchert. Called upon more than once to deliver a raw and emotion filled performance, Facinelli not only embraced his role with a passion, but executed it with flawless precision. It was truly one of his most memorable roles to date, and I think that only further opened my eyes to the still untapped talent he possess. He is truly a master of his craft.

To all of those who have had the privilege of seeing the film, consider your self blessed. For those who have not yet had the pleasure, I can only hope that Robert will release this film to DVD or make it available for download on iTunes because in my opinion, it truly is a MUST SEE work of art.

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gilmanst7 from United States
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A friend of mine recommended Rob Gunnerson's ARC to me a while ago. He had seen it at a festival and was raving about what a powerful piece of film-making it is. I recently had the pleasure of catching it at the Hollywood Film Festival and my expectations were surpassed by leaps and bounds.

ARC is packaged deceptively. It's opening is stylish, hip, disaffected and edgy. It's a world of drug dealers, smut hustlers and hookers, beautifully expressed in black and white with bursts of isolated color. What's brilliant about this film, however, is that about a third of the way through, it rips the unwritten contract between filmmaker and audience in half. The film abruptly shifts from edgy and disaffected to vulnerable and human.

It's in this jarring break that I truly connected with Gunnerson's main characters: a drug dealer and a prostitute. Regardless of what they do for a living or what they've made of their lives, what's at their core is made so identifiable by the filmmakers that it was impossible not to see myself in their shoes.

Which is scary as hell considering the world they're in.

Once he's cast his spell and has your gut, Gunnerson, takes characters and audience deep into one of the darker worlds I've seen on screen in quite some time. I could hear the audience around me squirm as the film edged towards a climax that is at once cruel, touching, and very, very powerful.

My hat's off to the entire cast (Peter Facinelli must be seen to be believed) for giving this indie film performances that can only be described as art.

The director and D.P.'s collaboration should also be celebrated. The film and its look feels so tailor-made for it's DV format that frankly, it doesn't feel like DV… it just feels distinctly THIS FILM.

Clearly talented, Gunnerson has achieved the alchemy all directors strive for, which is creating, out of nothing, a powerful, unique and emotional experience that stays with you. I hope he makes more soon.

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cjsouth from Detroit, Michigan, United States
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After seeing the Film ARC at the Indie Gathering in Ohio, I'm convinced that I'm in the right profession. This is the first time I have ever commented on a film at IMDb.com... and let me tell you... God Damn Amazing.

Robert Gunnerson, I applaud you. This is your first feature film and you stole the show. Passionate and Raw. Dark and humorous. One man's journey to claw his way out of the self-loathing, drug induced, pathetically convenient Pit he fell into. I was more involved in watching ARC than Lord of The Rings or X-Men. The beautifully framed shots and artistic use of spot coloring make it impossible to keep from losing yourself in the film.

I'm glad I had a chance to see it, and it was great talking to you about it. For anyone that hasn't seen this Movie... GO SEE IT! Pay huge money to have Rob send you a copy! Do Whatever it takes to see this film! YOU MUST SEE IT!

Independent film at it's finest!

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Adam Bolt from Los Angeles, CA
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I caught 'Arc' at the Indie Gathering Film Festival, and was very impressed. I must say, I'm not at all a fan of hip drug movies, but the depth of the story and superb acting won me over quickly. This film had an emotional truth to it that makes movies like 'Spun' pale in comparison. It is a gripping tale of redemption, without heavy-handed morality.

Artistically, it is beautiful. The daytime world is black-and-white with selective spots of color, but the film, in a strange and disturbing way, comes to full color and life at night... much like the world of these shady characters.

'Arc' is the ideal of what true independent film should be. Artistic, powerful, and solid, even with limited resources. I'm sure we will be hearing more about it.

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Jay Rossi (jayrossishow) from United States
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I absolutely loved it (ARC)! The acting, wardrobe, cinematography and everything else in the film was utterly amazing. The film's movement kept me intently watching and guessing. And if that wasn't enough, the final message revealing the plot was beautiful.

The character developments - and changes as the film progressed - was unexpected but perfectly understandable. It was highly believable that anyone under these circumstances would behave and change the same way.

And, lastly, the way the film used black and white and color, and the meanings thereof, was brilliant. I will see this one over and over again.

--- Jay Rossi (The Jay Rossi Project)

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john_twigger-1 from Brazil
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Arc started very slowly, with the look of a pretty typical drug-life low budget indie movie. Something to watch with half an eye while going through the paperwork. Then it started to pull me in. Somewhere along the way I stopped working through the accounts and became glued to the screen. Sure it has a few clichéd set pieces and a few moments of wooden acting, but after the first 30 minutes or so it pans out to be a nicely put together movie. I'm giving it an 8 based on the way that it managed to involve me in the characters and the story. Don't expect any fabulous Hollywood sets, this obviously hasn't got a huge production budget, but the story arc is well done and satisfying. For some reason it reminded me a bit of Running Scared. Worth watching.

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BanaTheMan from United States
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Forget whatever it is you know about Peter Facinelli from "Can't Hardly Wait" or the canceled series "Fastlane" -- neither of those projects even hinted at the depth he taps into here. Under the direction of Robert Ethan Gunnerson (this is one of the strongest debuts in recent memory), Facinelli is born again as an actor. Equally impressive is the debut of Raina-Simone Moore, who brings refreshing earthiness and wit to what could have been a stock character.

There are a lot of preconceived notions about "drug dramas," but this film should be seen first and foremost as a human drama. Instead of going for the trippy style of "Requiem for a Dream" or the barebones realism of "Drugstore Cowboy" -- Gunnerson wisely doesn't aim for one extreme. He also makes striking use of selective coloring, with colored objects popping out of black-and-white frames. In the hands of a lesser director, this could be a distracting gimmick, but here it works beautifully, speaking volumes about each character.

Funny how the film's budget was well under a million dollars, and yet it is has so much more heart and soul than the $150 million "Miami Vice." Seek it out, and you'll feel like you've made a great discovery. Days after seeing it, I can't shake it -- and I don't want to.

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msroz from United States
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"Arc" is a neo-noir and a darn good one at that. What about it stands out? A number of things. Facinelli inhabits his role as a drug addict, ex-cop, who has a dream of finding a missing little boy. Simone Moore is immensely attractive and engaging as girl who naively wants to make it big as a high-class call girl. There are several heavies, and they are realistic. The dialog is way, way above the usual. It's very intelligent. The parents of the missing boy come across genuine. We empathize with Facinelli and Moore in their quest, and in their unconventional actions that, nonetheless, are realistic. In fact, the whole movie is realistic. Although I can't explain every use that the director made of color, in a largely black and white film, I felt that he used the color scenes well, especially for certain direct and emotional confrontations at night. I felt that it added. I thought the characters went through arcs as the movie progressed that were plausible. The picture didn't seem concocted or phony.

Any negatives? Sure, every movie has negatives. I thought some scenes went on a bit too long. The movie was on the talky side at times. The sound was sometimes too low and/or the enunciation was below par -- but these are common faults these days.

This movie is on Netflix, so it should be getting the exposure it deserves. But it won't be for all tastes. I am a noir and neo noir fan, so that seedy and rundown locations and characters doing underhanded things are acceptable. This is not a Disney movie.

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billcr12 from United States
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Arc is the story of an ex-cop turned drug addict who teams up with a prostitute named Maya Gibbs to find a missing child to somehow redeem himself. Paris Pritchert is the junkie and pusher who remains high constantly, while in pursuit of the vanished kid. The hooker quotes Maya Angelou because she is very well read, in spite of her chosen profession. The usual mix of street characters and a doctor who likes boys, plus the expected tough and smart cop who helps Paris out for old times sake.

The cop and the hooker start out rocky, but over time develop a friendship, which is standard in these kind of dramas. The acting is o.k. and the script nothing special, with the streets of Los Angeles used as a realistic and gritty backdrop. Arc doesn't break any new ground; it is just another cop gone bad movie.

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chironaphelion from United States
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A film about a young ex-cop and now drug abuser and dealer, Paris Pritchert (Peter Facinelli), washed up just shy of 30, working for his dead father's partner, a hardened, corrupt cop. His fixation about finding a kidnapped boy becomes a reality through happenstance of an unexpected "vacation." Along with Maya Gibbs (Raina-Simone Moore), a prostitute just getting into the game, the story degenerates into a slow pursuit filled with a combination of violence, pornography, and depravity that ends with the inevitable conclusion of the path of self-destruction that is Paris's life.

Full of affectation and the embodiment of conceit, not surprising of a first film, especially considering that Gunnerson was the writer, director, editor, and composer. The last is the most amusing, and perhaps intended, as the soundtrack could pass for that of a 1980's porno. It is questionable that this film would even have been released without the success of Peter Facinelli's subsequent effort in Twilight.

There seems to be gratuitous camera and visual effect (Gunnerson is co-credited on this). Although I liked the stills in fast rewind at the start of the film, the other odd interjections seem to add nothing to the feel of the film. Most of this film is in black and white and yet it is interspersed with bits of color and sometimes, briefly, in full color and the meaning of the color is unclear.

All that said, this film isn't all that bad and Peter Facinelli acted well, but the film in total is more average than good or bad.

AKAs Titles:


Certifications:
Germany:18