A Meeting Across the River – STREAMING

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It can be rephrased as: Is it audacious or imprudent for a man to revamp Harold Pinter’s work? That’s exactly what actor-writer-director Michael Head has attempted. To an extent, he has adapted Pinter’s stage play ‘The Dumb Waiter,’ renamed it ‘A Meeting across the River.’ The original setting of two hit men in a basement receiving orders via the dumb waiter has been replaced with a scenario where they are waiting in a car in an empty parking lot near the Dartford bridge, with an Uber Eats scooter rider delivering their instructions instead. Eddie, played by Michael Head, and Bruce, directed by Frank Harper, engage in casual conversation while they await their orders. Eddie’s character is like a feisty terrier, while Bruce is more like a grumpy old dog. They chat about various topics.

In simpler terms, the conversation between the pair frequently revolves around trivial topics such as TV shows, food, politics, and sports, even humorously mentioning rival soccer teams Spurs and Arsenal. This is a style reminiscent of Quentin Tarantino’s approach, making seemingly insignificant subjects central to their dialogue. However, it’s challenging to make such everyday chatter engaging for the audience. Yet, Head’s ability to incorporate humorous mispronunciations adds an entertaining twist to their discussions. There’s also a hint of a power struggle, much like in Waiting for Godot, as they engage in verbal banter and try to outdo each other subtly.

Crafting an engaging dialogue for a solitary scene can indeed be a challenging task, as maintaining interest without diverse settings or characters is no simple feat. However, the film manages to create visual intrigue through strategic use of occasional flashbacks to different locations, such as Bruce’s first hit, which serve as engaging vignettes that add depth and variety to the overall presentation.

Harper and Head make an excellent screen duo, delighting viewers with their witty banter and disagreements. It’s likely that Harper is more recognized for his tough guy roles, particularly in Lock Stock and 2 Smoking Barrels (and he was the only truly compelling heavy in that movie). However, Michael Head matches him in talent, as he has been actively involved in numerous films over the past few years, either as an actor, director, or both. His latest film, ‘Bermondsey Tales : Fall of the Roman Empire,’ is definitely worth watching.

Despite being a modestly-funded production, “A Meeting across the River” excels on multiple levels, with strong performances and technical finesse. Its brief 75-minute runtime ensures an engaging and highly satisfying viewing experience. I’d definitely recommend giving it a try.

Here’s the trailer…..

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2025-08-09 02:23