Watch Durant's Never Closes

Durant’s Never Closes is a 2016 indie film starring Tom Sizemore, Jon Gries, and Peter Bogdanovich. The film, originally titled Joe’s Place, is based on a true story about an Arizona bartender named Jack Durant. Jack Durant (Tom Sizemore) is the charismatic owner of Durant’s, a popular bar and steakhouse in Phoenix, Arizona. His bar is a popular hangout for politicians, mobsters, and celebrities, who love his delicious steaks and his endless supply of alcohol. Despite his success, Durant is a bit of a mystery to those around him, and nobody knows much about his past.

The film tells the story of Durant’s life through a series of flashbacks that take place during a single night at the bar. Durant reflects on his life, loves, and losses while tending bar and chatting with his customers.

As the night progresses, we learn more about Durant’s past. He came from humble beginnings and worked his way up through the ranks to become a successful businessman. But he struggled with alcoholism and his personal relationships, including his tumultuous marriage to his wife Ethel (Michelle Stafford).

Throughout the film, we meet the various colorful characters who patronize Durant’s. There’s Sam (Jon Gries), a local mobster who has a soft spot for Durant and often helps him out of sticky situations. There’s also the beautiful Julie (Lizzie Peet), who captures Durant’s heart and becomes his muse.

In addition to his personal struggles, Durant also has to deal with the challenges of running a bar. He has to deal with local politicians who try to shake him down for money, and he has to contend with a rival bar owner who wants to put him out of business.

The film is directed by Travis Mills and features a gritty, film noir-inspired visual style. Mills utilizes black and white flashbacks and voiceover narration to tell Durant’s story, and the film is shot in a way that captures the seedy, underworld quality of Durant’s world.

One of the standout performances in the film comes from Tom Sizemore, who plays Durant with a mix of charm and vulnerability. Sizemore is known for his roles in films like Saving Private Ryan and Natural Born Killers, and he brings a depth to Durant that makes him a compelling character.

Jon Gries is equally impressive as Sam, the loyal mobster with a heart of gold. Gries, who is best known for his role in Napoleon Dynamite, brings a sense of humor to the role and provides some of the film’s lighter moments.

Peter Bogdanovich also appears in the film as a character named Charlie Richman. Bogdanovich, who is a legendary director in his own right, delivers a solid performance as a weary traveler who stops into Durant’s to escape the cold.

Durant’s Never Closes is a film that explores themes of love, loss, and redemption. It’s a character-driven story that takes a deep dive into the psyche of a complex and flawed protagonist. With strong performances from the cast and a strong visual style, Durant’s Never Closes is a film that is well worth watching.

Durant's Never Closes is a 2016 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 20 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.0.