Watch Wasteland
- 2011
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2.7 (282)
"Welcome to Los Angeles. Home of the sound-bite, self-help industry, sunny days and neon nights. In the heart of this glittery, shallow world, three friends - Oscar, Sammy and Jax - spend their days and nights working as chefs in a high-end restaurant. Despite their differing backgrounds and personalities, they all have one thing in common: the dream of making it big as rock stars. But as they struggle to make their mark in a saturated music industry, they become involved in a world of drugs, crime and danger, where the only way to survive is to blend in or die.
Wasteland is a gritty, raw and intense tale of friendship, ambition and survival. Set against the backdrop of Los Angeles' seedy underbelly, it follows the journey of three young men as they navigate the treacherous waters of the music scene, where talent, hard work and determination are not always enough. The film gives an unflinching depiction of the harsh realities of pursuing a dream in a city where image is everything, and where desperation and disillusionment can drive even the most rational person to do things they never thought they were capable of.
At the center of the film is Oscar, the most charismatic and driven of the trio, played with intensity and vulnerability by Garret Sato. Oscar is the glue that holds the group together, but also the one whose ambition puts them all in danger. Derrel Maury is Sammy, the loyal friend, who wants nothing more than to make it big, but whose fear of failure leads him to make choices that threaten to tear the group apart. Janelle Velasquez plays Jax, the only female member of the group, whose talent and beauty make her an object of desire, but whose fierce independence and loyalty make her a force to be reckoned with.
The film's narrative is driven by the fast-paced, energetic music of the band, which provides a visceral and emotional backdrop to the story of the characters' struggles and triumphs. The film never shies away from the harsh realities of the music industry, from the cut-throat competition, to the sleazy agents and promoters, to the endless cycle of drugs and partying that can lead to self-destruction.
Wasteland is a film that will resonate with anyone who has ever had a dream, and who has ever had to fight tooth and nail to make it come true. It's a film that captures the raw energy and passion of the music scene, while also exposing its dark side. It's a film that will make you laugh, cry and root for the characters, even as you cringe at their mistakes and bad decisions. Above all, it's a film that reminds us of the power of friendship and loyalty in a world where everything is for sale.
Director Nathan Todd Sims has created a film that is both stylish and gritty, with a sharp eye for detail and a sense of authenticity that comes from his own background as a musician. The film's location photography captures the neon-lit streets and dingy clubs of LA with a sense of both beauty and danger, while the performances of the cast are raw and honest, bringing the characters to life and making us care about their fates.
In the end, Wasteland is a film that tells a universal story of hope, friendship and ambition, set against the backdrop of one of the world's most iconic cities. It's a film that will leave you inspired, moved and entertained, and that will stay with you long after the credits roll."
Wasteland is a 2011 science fiction movie. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 2.7.