WIDESCREEN FOCUS: PATTI CAKE$

PATTI CAKE$ | Fox Searchlight | Directed by Geremy Jasper | Drama, Comedy, Music, Coming of Age | 108 min. | R

The story is not a new one: struggling to make it against all odds. It's something 'Jersey has always seemed to delivered on well. Owning it across both sides in the battle of the sexes -- from THE HURRICANE to COP LAND (which is celebrating its twenthieth year and featured Sly Stallone, who, with ROCKY as his most famous film and its recent Jersey biopic CHUCK, that was reviewed on this site a month back -- see what I did there for in-depth continuity - ha) for the guys; from DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN (yep, I wrote it) to CHASING AMY (which is also celebrating its twentieth year) for the ladies -- Jersey has always offered character-driven films that go with guts to get the ultimate glory for self redemption. In now comes the TKO of PATTI CAKE$, a feature that does the unthinkable: gives you the rags-to-riches story that we all know but makes it so raw, so genuine, you forget the classic film formula and simply think of it as a classic in the making. 

Danielle Macdonald (Patricia Dombrowski, a.k.a. Patti Cake$, a.k.a. Killa-a-a-a-ah P) in full effect for her audience (of one).

In speaking with its debut feature film writer / director Geremy Jasper, a Jersey man himself through and through (with respect and the best way possible) at his Michigan premiere of the film at Detroit's film festival Cinetopia, he made it a point to say Patti Cake$, Paula Dombrowski in the movie is him; raised by "strong, big-boned mother and sisters" this character was in him always, waiting to find that voice. The story that is told is not a new one, struggling to make it against all odds.

In talking with both he and with the film's leading lady, Danielle Macdonald, she then noted that this was outside of her comfort zone, being trained classically as a singer. In an operatic capacity no less, and no intention of dropping rhyme with dramatic acting tendencies. "It was Geremy who I auditioned for and we dived into this together," she chuckles happily with the director, in on a joke where they both have the last laugh.

This is a film where NO ONE on set were in their comfort zone: the screenwriter/director, a musican first and now writing across gender lines; accomplished Oscar-nominated actress Cathy Moriarty (RAGING BULL) giving a twenty-year-aged, comedic edge to her onscreen delivery; the hilarious, cabaret entertainer Bridget Everett taking on a dark, dramatic tone to her. Macdonald notes, "the three generations of family all sat in a room, we did that 'ugly cry' to get out our feelings and bonded over it" to make the hard knockin' connections between these women trying to raise themselves the best they can in subpar circumstances. 

Patti Cake$ / Killa P (Danielle MacDonald) gets a pep talk serenade from Hareesh, a.k.a. Jheri (Siddharth Dhananjay)

This film isn't an easy rise over adversity. We have our lead (Paula Dombrowski who is continuously and marginally cast aside by those around her being called "Dumbo") whose only internal compass is the music she knows she can deliver. It isn't just her you see being hit across the soul with this adversity: her longtime friend Jheri (Indian-born, Los Angeles actor discovered online on YouTube by Jasper and never acted before, played with unwaivering swagga and heart) is constantly being put in place by his work and his family to focus on his work and profession; on the fringe 'Besterd' defies AfAm convention with a punk rocker, anarchist drive to escape. It is this common thread of tongue-in-cheek, fuck-the-establishment that brings these divergent characters together for one common goal: make music that will make people stand and take note.

Hip hop beats and venom-dripping rap rhymes are the currency in the streets of 'Jersey. Patti Cake$ has the acumen and raw talent to be a "boss bitch" in this game. But everyone around her thinks otherwise, down to a staggering and brutal show of vocal force between her and local white boy rapper Danny (played so dastardly well by on-the-rise actor McCaul Lombardi) you cannot help but gasp at the verbal carnage that is exchanged between the two. You can feel the past pain and anguish she expels while be refuted and fat-shamed by her sparring rhyme-smith.

This is the fuel to be more, do more, get past this wall of a city, groupthink and limitation to be the emcee she knows she can be.  

Killa P giving gangsta swagger for the camera with her crew P, B (Basterd, Mamoudou Athie) 'N' (Nana, Cathy Moriarty) J (Jheri).

Jasper comments that "...you write roles with certain people in mind and you pray that they'll do it..." to deliver what a writer is trying to convey through the camera. This came down to even the brilliant cameos like MC Lyte (chart-topping female rapper of 'Lyte as a Rock', 'Cold Rock The Party') as Jersey on-air DJ 'French Tips.' "I wrote that role for her as I grew up as a HUGE fan of hers. I always thought of her in the role and we were lucky enough that she would do it." He also face major difficulties himself, as not all with the creation and filming of this was as fortuitous as the casting. "I had stuggled with it for many years and it took me four years to write the script." the director says.

"There were many different endings: there were holograms, there was a heist, there was a reality show..." he jokingly looks back at his big-time fun labour of love with Killa P. It was his producer who reminded him of the roots he sowed this in from with the story by saying, as Jasper recalls, "Cut the shit and get her onstage." It is this shining moment of accomplishment against the system, against convention and with such veracity that you cannot help but ask why this hasn't been brought to the screen before now? It took someone like Geremy Jasper, the 'big girl" inside of him and his ingenue Danielle Macdonald to let us know it is for the right time and the right reason.

PATTI CAKE$ currently reigns over select theaters.