"Cashback" (Directed by Sean Ellis, 2006)

“It takes approximately 500 pounds to crush a human skull. But the human emotion is a much more delicate thing.” Sean Ellis’s “Cashback” perplexingly begins with our protagonist reciting this quote over a classical operatic medley that plays while his (now) ex-girlfriend mutedly screams at the top of her lungs in slow motion. From here, we as an audience have an insight of how unconventional this film will ensue.

After this painful breakup, the central character Ben Willis develops ongoing insomnia. To kill the endless time he now has, he starts working the late night shift at the local supermarket, where his artistic mind hallucinates between dreams and reality.

 

Though the dry, quirky-yet-lovable humor seems a tad “been there done that” after the recent “indie” film craze, the UK feature “Cashback” provides a beautifully atypical twist on a standard love story with its eccentric editing, erotic provocations, and unusual casting.

Both Ben’s sleep-deprived fantasies and his minimum wage job are not short of accurately relatable, making this movie doubly entertaining to watch. But the real kicker is Ellis’ direction in the film: transitioning to and from flashbacks by a swift camera pan as if Ben’s past memories were in the adjoining room, as well as the exquisitely convincingness of his alternate realities. Though this, again, seems redundant of a standard Hollywood feature trying too hard to be bizarrely hip, “Cashback” is successful in marrying an indie film with a sci-fi additive because of its systematic precision and unique editing.

What made this movie perhaps indigestible to some was its heavy influence in classic art; as our Ben is completing his last year in an arts college and the movie reflects his passion for the female composure, audiences may be uncomfortable with the insane amounts of seemingly awkward and frank nudity. We see this especially when his time stopping imaginations lead him to undress every woman in his supermarket--not to mistreat them, but to passionately sketch them. The candidness is done in a tasteful manner and adds a flare to a movie that has some repeated themes.

Ben's recapturing and smooth British accent voiceover strings together nearly every minute of "Cashback" yet never overpowers the camera shots from telling the story. Sean Biggerstaff gives a concisely charming performance that is actually believable-- something that is apparently hard to be in a movie that touches on such common life events. Though the script is lacking in some areas, Biggerstaff makes up for it; cheesy lines such as his “The bad news is that time flies. The good news is that you’re the pilot” are dismissed simply because we are rooting for our dearly loveable Ben. Also, his romantic interest and coworker Sharon played by Emilia Fox is a fun contrast to his juvenile demeanor. The other colorful coworkers occasionally add necessary humor, but the rest of the supporting roles seem unnecessary and forgettable. The Kung Fu-obsessed clerk may have been the movie’s one pretentious quip…why?!

Ultimately, this film resonates above a standard romantic comedy, indie flick, or sci-fi film because of its polished direction, suggestive artiness and suitable casting. Thankfully, the UK shows us how it’s done with an endlessly entertaining feature film that’s an incredible payout.