BUBBLE

RATING: B-

Starring: Debbie Doebereiner, Dustin James Ashley, Misty Dawn Wilkins, Omar Cowan, Laurie Lee, David Hubbard, Kyle Smith, Decker Moody. Music by Robert Pollard, Director of Photography Steven Soderbergh, Edited by Steven Soderbergh, Executive Producers Mark Cuban, Todd Wagner, Jason Kliot, Joana Vicente, Written by Coleman Hough, Directed by Steven Soderbergh.

Rated R, Running Time 72 mins., 2.39 to 1 Anamorphic Scope Aspect Ratio.

Steven Soderbergh is one of those rare directors who despite his critical and financial success, still can’t shake the desire to make indie films. 2002’s “Full Frontal” was a humorous effort, but it failed as a satire on the movie industry. With his latest film “Bubble”, Soderbergh embarks on an experimental project that is first in a series of independent features he plans to shoot around America. Unlike the consumer grade digital video cameras he used on “Full Frontal”, Soderbergh has taken the high definition route and set his eyes on the city of Ohio.

Debbie Doebereiner leads a cast of unknowns as Martha a middle aged woman who spends her days assembling dolls in an Ohio toy factory and her nights caring for her elderly father and sewing dresses. Her closest friend is young Kyle (Dustin James Ashley) and their basic day consists of her driving them both to and from their jobs at the factory. The order that exists within their dull lifestyle is soon given a spark with the arrival of Rose, (Misty Dawn Wilkins) a twenty-something single mother who has just been hired. Martha and Kyle welcome Rose into their circle and enjoy her company at lunchtime which is full of friendly conversation and stories about her last job at a nursing home.

When Martha agrees to baby-sit for Rose’s daughter one night, she gets a little miffed after she discovers Rose and Kyle are going on a date. Things get peculiar when Kyle takes Rose back to the trailer he shares with his mom to smoke some grass and she swipes a few bucks from his bureau while he’s not looking. Even more peculiar is the arrival of Rose’s ex-boyfriend Jake (Kyle Smith) the father of her child and a stoner who demands in front of Martha that Rose return what she owes him. This tale of a seemingly nice girl who turns out to be a klepto with a few secrets soon turns to murder as one of these four people ends up dead.

“Bubble” is indeed and experiment for Soderbergh, but it’s not a very bold one. At 72 minutes the film is barely feature length and just when the story becomes interesting, the conclusion can be seen over the horizon. What’s remarkable is how beautiful this film looks. High definition photography has unfortunately become synonymous with the “Star Wars” movies or any wild project conceived by Robert Rodriguez, but never has it been used to present daily life. The mundane and everyday imagery we take for granted is given a three-dimensional presence thanks to Soderbergh’s efforts. He didn’t even light his scenes like most cinematographers do, but shot and used whatever light was available. The inside of a coffee shop, a trailer home, break room, and an old-fashioned doll factory are showcased with such bright, crisp and clean detail that they seem more than just familiar.

“Bubble’s” three leads are not trained actors, but individuals who answered Soderbergh’s casting call in Ohio. Misty Dawn Wilkins brings a touch of reality to her character who is just trying to survive day to day as a young single mom having once worked as a “professional ass wiper” in a nursing home. Dustin James Ashley convincingly portrays a quiet young man who reveals to Rose, the anxiety he develops when being around too many people and Kyle Smith is unintentionally humorous in his reactions when hearing of the murder. The real treat of the film is Debbie Doebereiner’s Martha, a cashier in real life who plays her part with intelligence yet in a slightly naïve fashion. It’s difficult to tell what’s going on in her head at times, but the performance she gives with her wide eyes is difficult to look away from.