Knight Club (2001)

A Film Review

Copyright Dragan Antulov 2005

Being a bouncer is one of the least appreciated professions in the world despite the fact that it requires good fitness, martial, as well as psychological and diplomatic skill that most people don't possess. One of the few films to appreciate this fact is KNIGHT CLUB, 2001 drama written and directed by Russell Gannon.

The protagonist of the film is Gary Grieco (played by Lochlyn Munro), struggling Hollywood actor who successfully uses his skills to con his way into a popular Los Angeles night club. When his deception is about to discovered, he desperately takes the offer to become a bouncer. First incident discovers his new talent, which is recognised by Dirk Gueron (played by Lou Diamond Phillips), leader of Knight Club, group of elite Los Angeles bouncers. Dirk befriends and tutors Gary, allowing him to work in most prestigious night clubs and develop network of influential friends. Gary begins to live a good life, but the lure of even more money from Russian mobster Dimitri (played by Russell Gannon) proves to be too much. Gary betrays his Dirk in order to get a job of a bouncer in Dimitri's club.

Jim Lotfi's script for KNIGHT CLUB occasionally tries to be an honest and realistic portrayal of the dark side of Hollywood. World of elite night clubs and bouncers who are their informal lords and one of the least known pieces of Hollywood machine was provide an excellent and original perspective on the centre of world's entertainment industry. Made with small budget and without content constraints of big studio production, KNIGHT CLUB often has rawness that other films on that subject lack. However, the potentially intriguing story and set of characters are buried under the mountain of abysmal acting. Simplistic moralising, underlined with the use of poem at the end, is not going to improve generally disappointing impression of the film.

RATING: 3/10 (+)