Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Two Ways to Go West’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This review of ‘Two Ways to Go West’ contains spoilers.
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The whole notion of ‘starting over’ is something that we hold in high regard in modern society, and understandably so. Because when the daily grind of life starts to get you down, or life’s more difficult moments put you in quite the tough spot mentally and emotionally, the thought of simply packing up and heading into the proverbial sunset so you can awaken in a new place where the possibilities are outright endless, is quite the appealing thought for certain. But while there is much wonder to be found in pondering upon what our lives would look like if we were able to reinvent ourselves on a moment’s notice, the reality of this particular notion is far more complex than we give it credit. For in the end, one cannot simply just ‘up and go’ and expect life to start over again in the simplest of fashion.
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Because we have family members that rely upon us and need us, and we have friends in a similar boat, and leaving them behind is far easier said than done. Plus, a lot of what motivates us to want to get a fresh start in the first place, is related to issues that are far more internal in nature. Which means that no matter where we go or what we do, the root causes of our troubles are always with us. If anything, this is a notion that perhaps needs something of an update, since starting over really entails some serious self-work and perhaps the best way to begin to change our view of this mantra, is by way of popular media. For it too tends to propagate the wonder of just escaping our daily strife. But thankfully, there are some stories out there that don’t shy away from what this notion really entails, and recently this reviewer had the opportunity to enjoy a motion picture that makes a point to embrace the tough nature of the fresh start in Two Ways to Go West.

Now in this particular film, we are introduced to a man named Gavin, who is at quite the crossroads in his life right now. Because not that long ago, he packed up and tested his fortunes in Hollywood and betting on himself, paid off in spades. For he enjoyed a little fame in tinsel town, but unfortunately some tough injuries and the wonder of painkillers, took him down a dark road. That kind that eventually ended with a stint in rehab. But after cleaning himself up and finding a support network in his new love, Gavin is ready to start over in life and what better way to make that happen, then by swinging by Las Vegas for the weekend to spend a little time with some old childhood friends before one of them ties the knot. But this seemingly innocent act and attempt to test one’s mettle will be far more difficult than Gavin expects. For surrounding himself with the past and a town that thrives on the party lifestyle that he left behind, will test him like never before. 

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So, make no mistake about it, this is quite the bleak drama for certain. Thanks in large part to the fact that it presents addiction in the raw and how difficult it is for folks to come back from that. Because Gavin really is at the point in his recovery where one wrong push will send him over the edge and truly, being surrounded by booze and temptation is a poor choice for him in the first place. Which in turn leads to some powerful scenes where he struggles mightily with his sobriety, and really this is a direct result of the fact that Gavin doesn't quite take his sobriety or his recovery all that seriously. Because in essence, Gavin thought a week or two in rehab would cure him of well, everything. But that's simply not the case, since sobriety takes dedicated work and effort on the part of the addict and ironically, his inability to understand what it takes to stay sober is what lays the foundation for the film's exploration on what is truly needed in order to get a fresh start in life.

Because another key misstep in his long road to recovery, is the sheer fact that he never bothered to address the root causes of his addiction. For he really did turn to drugs to ease the ache from wounds he never healed and transitioning into that exploration is really where this motion picture shines. Because it really does make it clear that we cannot escape our past and our demons in the slightest. Instead, we have to confront them and deal with them, and outright make peace with them, and only then will we find the freedom that we seek since we are now in command of what once hurt us. And seeing Gavin confront the hurtful things that his friend Shane did to him, and seeing him make peace with Marty over their sorted past, is oddly inspirational. For we get to watch Gavin grow right before our eyes and prove the film's philosophical themes to be true, giving one hope when all is said and done.

In the end, this is a supremely unique independent film. Because of the fact that it handles this kind of subject matter in an intimate manner. For most of what is discussed and dissected in this review, in handled within the confines of a hotel room, which allows for us to truly get to know Gavin and his friends Marty and Shane and understand exactly what makes them tick and that’s a wonderful approach to the story since it keeps the plot free from silly gimmicks. Yet while all of those elements make for some powerful storytelling, what truly makes this movie worth your while, is the realism it exudes. For the conversations we are privy to, and the epiphanies that these characters come to, feel natural since they aren’t accompanied by musical stings in grandiose settings. Which makes this story a refreshing and fascinating ride, one that stays with you after it has come to an end. Since it does a phenomenal job of reminding the viewer that the freedom we so desperately seek sometimes, is available to us if we are willing to put in the work.      
   
‘Two Ways to Go West’ is available to watch now on Amazon Prime.

Also, if you enjoyed this review and love all aspects of cinema, we also recommend you check out our Podcast, ‘Movie Mumble’, located here.

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