Pickings

R

Released Mar 2, 2018

1 hr. 43 min.

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

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List

80%

5 Reviews

Tomatometer

55%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

A short-tempered mobster and his gang of thugs bite off more than they can chew when they try to shake down a bar owned by a mysterious woman with a dangerous past.

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Audience Member

They sure know how to pick 'em Director Usher Morgan tells a thriller about messing with the wrong queen A young woman played by Elyse Pryce who owns a family bar is targeted by a short-tempered mobster But that turns out to be a mistake when she starts striking back This mobster has no idea what's in store for him and his crew What does it mean what makes people do what they do; that's the root of human psychology A desire to gain pleasure as a need to avoid pain This movie goes on a little longer than it should; the plot should've been different Some of the stylized filters are a bit overblown You'd think this would take place entirely in the bar because this feels very uneven with some jumpy editing Pryce gives a very visceral performance however I just thought this was alright

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/09/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Another film that I wasn't too keen to watch, as my first thought was "Mmmm....low budget Tarantino". Well, maybe we should remember that Tarantino doesn't "own" this style of movie, and I do feel that the whole story was handled well. It must have been, I've just watched it again.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Horrific acting amplified by an even more derivative and amateurish script. Too campy to be taken seriously, yet too inane to be a thoughtful parody. The overused cute editing tricks just emphasize the incredibly low budget of the production and the "high school film class" nature of the direction. The characters are unbelievable and caricatures of those from much better movies than this.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

this movie was agonizing to watch, I held for 25 minutes and had to vacate but based on the editing and effects I could see it was poorly done. The move was as if the director made a group of short clips and edited them together.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

it could have been quite a little gem with a little less scmaltz from Usher Morgan. He needs to watch some really good films and drop his mimicry. This effort was a clear rip off of Elmore Leonard's Justfied down to using Dixie Mafia and Michigan in it. If you are going to rip someone off, may as well be the best so that was actually a positive. The issues come in with the lame attempt to copy Frank Millers Sin City graphic novel style at times. Usher isn't sophiscated enought to pull this off (or he was lazy-take your pick). The 3 dames? Really? Usher you were really pretty close but you cheesed this up with that stuff. The two bit mobsters who can only say do you know who I am repeatedly was clever, the first ten time but it did get kind of tiresoem along with the worst acting in the movie. What saved this was Elyse Price who, given some better material might actually show us something. Her brother character's wardrobe may have been the silliest part of the whole movie sae for the silk scarf our mob guy wore. Usher, if you had stole more Elmore, lost the Miller and didn't writie like Uwe Boll on Prozacl and had hired villians who can act you would have had a real movie that would have been 20 times better than this and I actually watched this and didn't hate it despite those major flaws.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This was such a corny movie...i don't know where to start- the ridiculous coyboy hat brother who looked like he was from a different era; the awful mother letting her children hang out in a tacky bar- including her teenage daughter and young kids. Then they live in this mansion..wot the heck. Particularly loved when the whole family were at the bar-young girl all alone cashing up at 1am- hasn't locked the bar so the thugs just walk in. The children all witness the subsequent massacre. Much later the young son is awake in his bed and his mother- dressed like a prostitute - says its getting late you better get to sleep. Late? it must have been around 4am! haha. Trash.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

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Usher Morgan

Director

Lynne Jordan

May Pickens

Michelle Holland

Doris Pickens

Taso Mikroulis

Marvin Lee-Haywood

Reese Grande

Lily Lee-Haywood

Elyse Price

Jo Lee-Haywood

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Pickings: Trailer 1

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Pickings: Trailer 1

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Gary Goldstein

Los Angeles Times

The visually arresting, wickedly entertaining crime drama "Pickings" marks an impressive narrative feature directing debut by Usher Morgan, who also wrote, edited and produced. He's a talent to watch.

Mar 1, 2018

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

It's a film that should intrigue and entertain most indie devotees and those who can appreciate a unique voice telling a familiar story uniquely told.

Rated: 3.0/4.0

Sep 20, 2020

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Hunter Lanier

Film Threat

Pickings might have two left feet, but it's not without its temporary pleasures. There are occasional moments of inspiration.

Rated: 5/10

Jul 31, 2018

Full Review

David Fontana

Film Inquiry

Combining two of the great genres of cinema is not an easy feat, and though Morgan's film is uneven, it is at least an indication that he could be someone to look out for in the future.

Apr 30, 2018

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Maitland McDonagh

Film Journal International

Pickings may not be a genre-changer, but it's handsomely stylish and a cut above the average neo-noir pastiche.

Mar 1, 2018

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Synopsis

A short-tempered mobster and his gang of thugs bite off more than they can chew when they try to shake down a bar owned by a mysterious woman with a dangerous past.

Director: Usher Morgan
Executive Producer: Usher Morgan
Screenwriter: Usher Morgan
Distributor: Dark Passage Films
Production Co: Digital Magic Entertainment
Rating: R (Language Throughout|Violence|Some Drug Use)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 2, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 3, 2018
Sound Mix: Dolby
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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