Time and time again, works of fiction reference the sins of the father. A patriarchal figure’s past transgressions lead to difficulties for those in their vicinity. In writer/director/star Tony K.’s (Stephen Sorrentino) case, all that he worked and dreamed for died in the past, leaving him lost in a world that has long moved on.
In his heyday, Tony K., a wannabe rockstar, was once considered a gifted prospect in the industry – but his career is better remembered for all its missed opportunities and failures. Tony lost it all: work, marriage, and a relationship with his son, Brendan (Christopher Quartuccio). Now, decades later, and fueled by a desire to restart, Tony decides to revitalize his talents and begins writing songs once again. Tony meets with his former collaborator and best friend Andrew (Josh Philip Weinstein), hoping for some support, only to face dismissal. With nothing left to lose, he makes contact with his estranged son Brendan through ex-wife Michele (Candy Clark). Now a multi-Grammy award-winning artist, Brendan is enjoying a lavish life as a bondafide superstar. He’s achieved everything his father always wanted to have.
Amends of the Father has a lot on its mind at all times. Consequently, it can sometimes feel like the film’s scope exceeds its grasp, especially in the pacing department. The plot selectively glosses over certain aspects of Tony’s heightened emotional state in order to move on to the next scene.
Sorrentino’s Tony is without question the lifeblood of the film. Tony, trapped in a pit of self-loathing and fear of failure, yearns for what he believes the universe owes him, yet he struggles to overcome his own shortcomings. He presents himself as brash on the outside, yet he harbors insecurities on the inside, making a concerted effort to conceal his bitterness. Tony is an anti-hero of sorts, a compellingly acted and written character throughout, someone the audience can sympathize with given his strides to achieve his dreams, yet also detest whenever his corrupted side rears its ugly head.
Never is this more on display than Tony’s climactic reunion with Brendan at a gorgeous Palm Beach mansion. Sorrentino peppers the dialogue with subtle critiques of society’s modern definition of stardom, pitting Tony and his son against one another in an unexpectedly poignant way. The throughline in Amends of the Father is a macabre twist on the classic mentality of “out with the old, in with the new,” and that is echoed throughout the story. Andrew’s bar is a major step in Tony’s journey, as he is forced to accept the weight of burnt bridges before making the trip to Florida for a fateful encounter with Brendan.
A powerful character study that should cater to multiple generations of filmgoers, Amends of the Father finds Stephen Sorrentino in prime form as he navigates the darker side of fame.
