Five Star tells the story of James “Primo” Grant as he tries to live through difficulty while looking out for his family and loved ones. Primo comes from a life of hard living and does his best to help others make right decisions, especially his friend John, the son of his fallen mentor. John wants to gain wealth and power, but Primo quickly sees that John’s efforts are steering him down a dangerous path. Set in Brooklyn, this story deals with the effects of being surrounded by crime and gang life, all the while trying to grow and be a better person.
I liked Five Star for the message it conveys. In the film, James “Primo” Grant and John Diaz try to navigate the troubled waters of the crime filled streets of Brooklyn, all the while trying to do the right thing by their families. Primo uses his time on screen to tell many stories about struggle and overcoming negative influences to do everything he can for the benefit of his family. The film opens with an incredible monologue about Primo’s being released from prison and then coming home to see his newly born son for the first time, and it resonates deep.
John Diaz plays the son of Primo’s deceased mentor. He has aspirations of making it big, but has yet to experience any of the harsh realities that come with living a life of crime. When Primo sees that John wants to start working with local gangs, he steps in to impart some wisdom. John starts to feel threatened by Primo’s involvement and begins to rebel, causing angst between the two. Questions emerge about how John’s father died and tension builds to a point where family bonds collapse.
I recommend Five Star for anyone who is interested. This film focuses not only on real life drama, but also how people who grow up in poverty and harsh environments can do good for themselves and others. Primo and John Diaz give strong performances as the leads, and they are supported the excellent Wanda Nobles Colon, playing John’s mom, and a crew lead by director Keith Miller. The film has a very docudrama feel to it and in the end it comes across as sincere. This is a film that delivers an important message, that we all have the ability to make positive decisions even when it seems like we have no choice. Five Star is absolutely worth seeing.
Hawkins’ Rating:
Out of a Possible 5 Stars
