Flywheel Director's Cut
December 2007 Reviewed by: Anthony Di Marco Format: DVD	(all ratings out of 5): Overall Enjoyment Picture Quality Packaged Extras Sound Quality

Sherwood Pictures is named after the Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia where brothers Alex and Stephen Kendrick practice their faith. With $20,000 and what they describe as "divine guidance," the brother’s took their first stab at storytelling. Flywheel is about faith and redemption, but also a means of showcasing the tenets of the Baptist religion. Instead of choosing a high concept or gimmick-ridden narrative, the Kendrick’s opted for a brilliantly simple idea: What would happen if a spiritually corrupt used-car salesman purposely overcharged a minister for a car?

What struck me was the level of resourcefulness the Kendricks and their entirely volunteer crew applied to realize their vision. Any budding filmmaker would benefit from watching Flywheel because it succeeds with so little. One also has to respect the passion demonstrated by the filmmakers. Though the acting is strictly mediocre, Alex Kendrick and Tracy Goode do an adequate enough job playing used-car dealer Jay Austin and his righthand man Bernie Meyers. Alex Kendrick plays Jay with a moody, pensive quality that underscores a troubled soul on the verge of fracture, while Tracy Goode rides the line between villainous Judas and, with well-timed assistance by Vince Berkley (Trevor Lokey), comic relief.

Technically the film is a victim of its low budget and technology. The picture suffers from inadequate lighting and the shortcomings of early digital video technology, while the sound is compromised by the camera’s built-in low-fidelity microphone. Technical shortcomings aside, the Kendrick brothers compose solid shots and do a great job moving the narrative along. I was never bored.

Extras really show off the filmmaker’s enthusiasm. A brief but well-paced making-of documentary wastes little time with back patting and misplaced politics; rather, it tells the story of how a simple vision took flight with the help of community and faith. The commentary offers extra detail with the same honest attitude. The Kendricks demonstrate so much energy and excitement that the ripe religious content comes off as genuine rather than cloying.

Flywheel does target a specific audience, with specific religious ideals in mind. There were times where my agnostic sensibilities were challenged by a few too many "Alleluias." But what saves Flywheel is its underlying message. Some refer to it as "reaping what you sow," while others (like Earl J. Hickey and Buddha) call it as Karma. Either way it’s a philosophy that transcends religion and demands every human’s attention.

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