Restaurant Etiquette (short)

Review by Char Hardin



"Can I get you anything else?" waiter
"The check." Brick Tomly

Written and Directed: Bruce Clement
Starring: Robert Nolan Kyle Hytonen, and Paul Nicholls

Robert Nolan is a film actor that many of the horror reviewers and fans know from the Fatal Pictures short-film WORM by Richard Powell. In WORM he plays a disgruntled teacher having disturbing thoughts that the viewer are never sure he will act upon...but the viewer so wants me him to...or in this case...THIS reviewer being me. I would love to see a full feature film of Robert Nolan as Geoffrey Dodd and enjoy his inner turmoil.
In RESTAURANT ETIQUETTE we have another writer/director Bruce Clement, whose character Brick Tomly contacts an old friend for lunch and drinks at an actual Wine Bar in Toronto, called the FAT CAT WINE BAR. The friend, Lee LeGrand played exceptionally well by Paul Nicholls had me in tears laughing at their conversation at their table. Six minutes and 43 seconds of hilarity and rivalry.
Brick an out of work actor having lunch with a working actor who comes across as a pompous ass making Brick feel inadequate. The two start immediately engage in a one-upping-the-other duel and then it's time to pay the check. A match of speed and dexterity and what ensues next is a fight to the cashier. OH MY GOD THIS IS FUNNY STUFF! IN WORM, Robert's facial expressions are noted and viewer can read so much in his body language and facial expressions and in RE the head toss, the smiles, the piercing eye glares…roll on the floor laughing your arse off is what happens when watching this film. I do however recommend not eating when watching this, as I did last night. I was eating a favorite of mine a Slaw Dog (hot dog smothered in coleslaw) and had just taken a bite when the fight breaks out and I inhaled when I shouldn't have and a piece of hot dog got lodged in my throat! A slap or two later, I could breathe as tears rolled down my face watching the two grown up tussling over who was more affluent enough to afford to pay the check! Oh if anyone wants to see something so freaking funny....hit Bruce Clement up on Facebook and get a link.
Robert is an amazing actor with a broad range of talent. He plays crazy, demented, sweet, sarcastic, and so well and to see him in this one and with a PONYTAIL, it was a joy to watch and quite an experience that will look at again and again when I need a good old fashioned LAUGH. Bravo Mr. Robert Nolan on a fine performance!
The other character is Lee LeGrand played by Paul Nicholls someone new to me and was introduced via this film by Robert Nolan who shared the link with me. Funny guy! He and Robert did an excellent job in the fight scene and wonder how they felt the next day after the bashing their bodies had or what looked like they had had the hell kicked out of them.
Bruce, I will say you did a fine job with her story and direction. These two were awesome. I did notice something on the table. The flowers at the minute twenty second mark one of the petals from the flowers on the table was knocked loose by Roberts hand moments later the camera zoomed in and no flower petals on the table then next, a couple and at another time 3 or more were on the table. At no time did I see waiter clear away the flowers, so that tells me the table seen took a few takes. J Now worries...just something that caught my eye.