‘Pratfall’ Review – A Rambling And Quirky Adventure In NYC

A day in the life and a by-chance meeting creates an oddball adventure for two people in Pratfall. Joshua Burge stars as Eli, a raving insomniac who spends sleepless days bumbling through New York City. In his travels, he strikes up conversations and spouts of philosophical ramblings. He is a man of countless expressions in both a physical and literal sense. He projects his experiences, along with his hopes and dreams, all the while inviting the audience along for a quick-witted ride. One day, he encounters a French tourist, Joelle (Chloe Groussard). She provides mystery and intrigue, setting him off with her on a quixotic adventure across the city that never sleeps. A jazzy score and an in-your-face cinematography create a film that is as much inspired as it is quirky.

Pratfall begins with Eli as he moves erratically through Central Park. The famous park plays a character in the film and is the meeting place of our two leads. A diverse setting allows the park to take on many facets as the characters observe and interact. New York City looms large on the horizon and is an ever-presence in Eli’s life. There is a feeling of the metropolis closing in on him like a shadow or blanket, and he is forever desperate to escape it or, at the very least, make sense of it. His story is a winding romance with the Big Apple and all it entails. 

Enter Joelle, a visiting tourist from France, who strikes up a connection with Eli. She is the audience’s eyes on him. She even asks if he is one of the crazy New Yorkers. A vexing man, he makes her cry, further adding to her complex view of him. However, the two eventually cross paths again during a by-chance meeting in the park. The two share a hot dog and strike up a conversation. Through dialogue and his staccato ramblings, Eli is shown to be on the verge of a breakdown or at least in dire straits. Meeting Joelle seems a welcome distraction that keeps him walking and his mind on track.

In addition, the caricature of a tourist applies to Joelle. She is wide-eyed, taken in by the romanticism of The Big Apple. She may not wear rose-color glasses, but she is an optimist and constantly curious. Eli’s vexing mannerisms and erratic behavior intrigue her, and she is drawn to him like a moth to the flame. She is swept up by the city and a man who never sleeps. In a way, New York becomes an odyssey where both characters embark on a journey of self-discovery.

Unsurprisingly, New York City has been the center of countless films. It is a character. Boroughs. Uptown. Midtown. A tapestry of social classes. Thousands of personalities. Central Park is at the center of Pratfall. In the film, it is a jumping-off point for these two wanders. The film leads these two opposites on a journey where they seem to answer life’s central questions or at least contemplate them. Eli is an enigma personified, and Burge is pitch-perfect in creating a character who talks a mile a minute. He is a riddle the film chooses never entirely to solve. He evokes pity as much as frustration.

Eli has a unique way of looking at the world that is as one-sided as it is eclectic. During a scene when he and Joelle go to the bar, he refers to it as a sanctuary from the outside world. Moments like this provide insight into his character. Eli also disagrees regarding her conversing and getting him to open up. He presents himself as the typical New Yorker, but it becomes more apparent that he is pretty atypical. These moments where the character again exhibits a melody of emotion allow for some understanding and conflict in furthering the narrative.

Despite the film’s sparse cast, it makes up for a lack of players with the dialogue and the recurring predicament of Eli’s insomnia. The film reaches a tender if not bitter-sweet, climax that is sure to disappoint some but feels in keeping with the tone and character set up at the start. Pratfall is as much about going places as it is about staying put. The film tackles personal validation along with the quest for love and acceptance. Again, this is where the ideal setting of New York pays dividends. It is a city of promise but also one endowed with the realities of life. 

Ultimately, Pratfall is intimate in its cinematography and helps create an uneasy sense of perception. The audience watches these events unfold rather than necessarily participating in each situation. The film is expressive, and against the city backdrop, Eli and Joelle seem like perfect bystanders in the play of life. There seem to be hues of New York, New York, which may be more a credit to the film’s score and use of jazz. While the film never quite arrives at the Scorsese level, the design is quirky, leading it to find its own voice.

Pratfall is now playing at Laemmle Royal in Los Angeles (get tickets here) courtesy of Freestyle Digital Media. The film is also available on all major VOD platforms in North America including Apple TV, which you can find here. 

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