In this review, we explore the engaging character study of Easy’s Waltz, a film that brings back the essence of classic Vegas lounge culture.
‘Easy’s Waltz’ Review: A Nostalgic Look at Vegas
Looking like it was a script plucked straight out of the 1970s, perhaps even the ’50s, the richly entertaining midrange drama Easy’s Waltz goes down easy. It’s an engrossing character study of the kind of Vegas lounge singer that ought to be in that museum on the Strip, filled with salvaged signs of the Las Vegas that has been torn down and replaced by much glitzier new-age models. That probably is an apt description of Easy (Vince Vaughn) himself, a guy just trying to make ends meet by running a restaurant on the outskirts and performing nightly. He’s a Vic Damone-ish singer, genuinely talented with the phrasing of a lyric and dedicated to delivering for the few faithfuls who actually come to see him perform.
Enter Mickey Albano
Into his life comes mover and shaker Mickey Albano (Al Pacino), who sees something in Easy that he can exploit and convinces him he belongs instead at the Wynn Hotel on the Strip, promising he can make it happen. He becomes a mentor, and soon Easy is getting the bigger break he never thought would happen. Easy is the kind of Vegas fixture who could see the big time happening just “over there” in the glitzy distance of the world’s most famous gambling town, but the Sinatra era is dead. This is now a place where stars do “residencies,” but there are still lounges, and Easy fits right in.
Family Complications
The complication for him is his devotion to his younger, troubled brother Sam (Simon Rex), who acts as his “manager” but is generally a screw-up. Sam’s foolish moves affect his relationship with Mickey, landing him in increasing trouble. Mickey is a smooth old-style operator, but don’t cross him, or he will show up with his goon squad for some beating-up time. Easy also has to deal with his mother (Mary Steenburgen), a tough cookie he is paying to keep above water. His visit to her is the kind of single scene where an Oscar winner like Steenburgen knocks it out of the park. We instantly know this woman, and it isn’t pretty.
A Character-Driven Film
Easy’s Waltz instantly suggests this is going to be the kind of character-based movie Hollywood studios used to thrive on but now barely touch. This independently made film had its World Premiere as a Special Presentation at the Toronto Film Festival, marking the feature writing/directing debut of Nic Pizzolatto, who proved in the first season of True Detective he has the chops for this sort of thing. He proves it again here with a richly entertaining Vegas-themed movie that feels decades older than the era of The Hangover and Leaving Las Vegas.
Strong Performances
It is an actor’s dream. Vaughn has one of his best roles here, a guy who can interpret everything from “Little Drummer Boy” to classics like “Edge Of Seventeen” to Darin and Anka in their prime, and get to the essence. However, for his own good, perhaps he shouldn’t drift from his longtime comfort zone by playing a game he doesn’t know so well. It is nice to see Pacino get a decent part here. His Mickey Albano may be Michael Corleone-light, but nonetheless lethal when he has to turn on a dime. At 85, he still has it. In a sadly poignant role as the down-on-his-luck Sam, Simon Rex shows he has the dramatic chops to nearly steal the picture from a couple of old pros like Vaughn and Pacino. He is terrific.
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Female Roles
Most of the female parts, other than Steenburgen’s memorable if brief turn, including Kate Mara, Cobie Smulders, and Vegas veteran singer Shania Twain, don’t have as much to do to make much of an impression, a distinctive problem the 1960 Ocean’s 11 also felt. This waltz is for the boys.
Producers: Christopher Lemole, Tim Zajaros, Margot Hand, and Pizzolatto. It is looking for distribution.
Title: Easy’s Waltz
Festival: Toronto (Special Presentations)
Sales agent: CAA
Director-screenwriter: Nic Pizzolatto
Cast: Vince Vaughn, Simon Rex, Kate Mara, Cobie Smulders, Shania Twain, Tim Simons, Fred Melamed, Sophia Ali, Mary Steenburgen, and Al Pacino.
Running time: 1 hr 43 mins
