Watch Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets

Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets from 2020 is an American docufiction feature film directed by the sibling pair of Bill and Turner Ross. The film takes place in Las Vegas on its last night of operation for a bar called The Roaring 20s, which is supposedly a neighborhood watering hole. The bar's regular patrons consist of teachers, characters from the film, and a mix of locals. The bar's closing is not depicted, and the movie is more like an escape from today's world to a place where people can behave in a way that might seem stifling in our current environment.

The film takes place over the course of one night and is about people who come to the bar to drink and socialize, forget the outside world, and create their own little world. As the bar's last night unfolds and the bar patrons drink and talk, a range of topics is presented, ranging from love and loneliness to politics and the world beyond. The characters in the movie talk about the hardships of life, past mistakes, and regrets while reflecting on their lives and their past.

The movie is a hybrid between fiction and documentary. The main cast features regulars of the bar, as well as people that Bill and Turner Ross, the directors, have encountered during their time in Vegas. The cast features people of all races, genders, and ages. The cast's naturalism and the film's casual aesthetic suggest a slice-of-life documentary-like quality. The Ross brothers explore why people come to The Roaring 20s and what needs are fulfilled through alcoholic beverages and good company. While there is a sense of camaraderie and belonging among the drinkers, there is also a touch of sadness and desperation visible in some of the patrons.

As the patrons drink and talk, the film's structure subtly shifts toward a more theatrical and fabricated presentation. The film's final third feels entirely like fiction. The filmmakers are not interested in deceiving their audience; instead, they are merely utilizing their own mastery of mise-en-scène to extract cinematic poetry from this intimate community. The Roaring 20's only provides a starting point for the Ross brothers, a location in which to set their characters and let them roam free.

The camera has a fluid, improvisational tone throughout the film. The Ross Brothers' style is similar to that of a documentary filmmaker, capturing moments as they happen without any planned shots or lighting. The opening shots present The Roaring 20s as an image of the world. The camera lingers on the bar's exterior, capturing the quiet of the morning while members of the cleaning staff quietly queue up the last of the evening's litter. The small but crucial details of the bar are then zoomed on as the lighting technicians prepare for another evening of revelry.

With its casual, intimate, and poetic approach toward portraying the lives of ordinary working-class individuals, the film primarily portrays the reality of poverty and the working class in America in stylish ways as they talk about their lives and their experiences. The film provides a deeper voice to people who are often ignored, offering them the opportunity to tell their stories on the screen. Additionally, the last night of The Roaring 20s serves as a sort of reflection of America's past and present, capturing the challenges that people face, their hopes, dreams, and fears.

In conclusion, Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets is an expressive and visceral film that offers an alternative to mainstream cinema. The film is a fascinating look into the working-class lifestyle and their struggles, and it serves as a testament to the directors' abilities to craft a story that resonates profoundly with viewers. The viewers' experience of the film is emotional and authentic, evoking various responses from its audience. Despite the bar's closure, the film leaves its viewers with a sense of hope, reminding them that human beings will always get up, dust themselves off, and find a new path in life.

Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets is a 2020 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 38 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2 and a MetaScore of 83.