The sneaker culture is a great phenomenon. Teenagers to grown adults spend on average $200 to $6,000 dollars on sneakers, sparking a culture that is the subject of news articles, TV news, and documentaries alike, all attempting to understand “why sneakers?” Some of the reasons involve acceptance and the idea of wanting what we can’t have.
Kicks dives into all of those topics, while providing a riveting portrayal by Jahking Guillory of Brandon, a young boy driven by his obsession to not only purchase, but keep his prized possession, the black and red Nike Air Jordan 1, otherwise known as “Breds”.
Guillory brings an intense drive to all his scenes from the opening voice-over that helps the audience become aware of a sneaker addict’s obsession and provides an understanding of his passionate hobby. Although stubborn, Brandon is persistent in wanting to “keep up with the Joneses” with his two best friends, who can afford high-end Air Jordans. Although his friends love sneakers, they don’t appreciate them the same way Brandon does, who doesn’t have easy access to them.
Kicks brings to light the violence that comes with the sneaker culture. Despite the California backdrop, violence over sneakers is prevalent and continues to exist all over the country. Teens and adults are often robbed and murdered for a pair of sneakers going back to the late 80’s and early 90’s and the rise of the Air Jordan. What is a piece of leather to some is a grail to others and most recently in 2016, robberies and murders over sneakers remain a sad norm that the film captures very well on screen.
While Kicks’ bright spots are scattered throughout the film, there are moments within the film where you can see the flaws of Justin Tipping, a first time director. Slow-motion shots are used consistently and become distracting. At times, the film becomes too reliant on not only voice-overs but music to drive scenes that can easily have been substituted by more dialogue. The character study of Guillory’s character, Brandon, is halted by the 3rd act of the film. A compelling coming of age story turns into gun fights, drive-by shootings, and car heists, lessening the emotional climax and foundation Tipping established during the first two acts of the film.
Along with Guillory’s riveting performance, the surprise of the film is Christopher Wallace Jr., the son of the late great Notorious B.I.G. Wallace is charming and adds a well-balanced layer of both drama and comedy to the film. If not type casted, there is a future for Wallace in acting.
Kicks is not a terrible film. Kicks is an inconsistent film that lost its way. A film whose persistence in grimness takes away from what the viewers should really be concerned with, Brandon’s story. However, Kicks is an education on the sneaker culture and what leather and laces mean to one young man looking for acceptance.
Reel Talk gives Kicks 2.5 reels
