Review: BALLS DEEP is a surreal crime dramedy about one man's attempt to unload a hundred grams of Golden Triangle Heroin. Director John Ta experiments heavily with stylistic choices in editing and cinematography, turning BALLS DEEP into one hell of a bumpy, but interesting ride. One scene that stands out in the first quarter of the film is a video game fight sequence, reminiscent of STREET FIGHTER, but with real people, detailed with energy bars and comboing action exclamations. Scenes like these establish the spirit of BALLS DEEP from the get-go, displaying its bizarre personality in whacky and fantastic bursts.

Obviously wearing his influences on his sleeve, Ta brings us the steady hip shots of PI to the sped up sequences of SNATCH and everything in between. It is amazing how much he packs in one 89 minute film, from split screen storytelling to on screen facts sheets describing the characters by their on-person assets. While these expressive flairs are abundant, they get in the way of the storytelling and distract cinematic flow, oftentimes becoming superfluous. Nonetheless, Ta embraces his filmmaking heroes with both arms wrapped around and clenched tightly and it shows. Though, a flawed first effort by director John Ta, BALLS DEEP is still worth watching as you will never forget a film like this.

BALLS DEEP is the second film to be shot in Vietnam since THREE SEASONS and features original music from Jason Taylor of Pharcyde.

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