The 2025 film The Plastic Men review was going to be titled “Heartfelt Chaos.” But my SEO nixed that effort, so “Chaos of the Heart” was chosen instead. This tale of one man’s painful journey to salvation will move you. If it does not, you have a heart of stone and I mourn your passing.
The story
Jonathan Teller is a man whom tragedy visits early. After a life changing event where he is told to “Go to Vietnam or go to jail,” he opts for the military offer. After the physical war is over for him, He begins his internal battle. PTSD is the order of the day, and nights. Jonathan, as a new plastic man, is struggling. Suddenly, when he least expects it, he meets an angel.
The Cast
William Fichtner is the narrator.
James Preston is Jonathan Teller.
Gigi Gustin is Linda.
Matthew Fahey is Speedy.
Aaron Dalla Villa is Abbott.
Armie Hicks Jr. is Jim Sanders.
Meredith Thomas is Mrs Anderson.
Constance Forslund is the Landlady.
Sarah Nicklin is the head nurse.
Melanie Martyn is Judy.
Behind the Camera
Samuel Gonzalez Jr. writes and directs The Plastic Men with a heartfelt empathy to all the chaos that all vets suffer. It is not just the ones who returned from “Nam.” Although this tale is focused upon the troops who returned to scorn and apathy.
*The director says, in his mission statement, that The Plastic Men came about after reading a “personal” from Craigslist.
The ad was from a Veteran who was looking for his angel. Years after the fact, the man was looking for the woman who turned his life around. Samuel states that he never found the writer of the ad or learned if he found his “Guardian Angel.”*
The cinematography by Trevor Hooper and Chris Saul is tight in all the right places. Clive Hawkins‘ stunts are convincing and well done. The editing team of Chris Clancy (On-line.) and Brandon Amelotte (Assistant.) marries completely with the cinematography team for seamless results.
Colours in this film are spot on. Whether in the terrors of the shower or the horrific flashbacks, we feel that, as viewers, we are there with him. The lighting and colour bring us to that place.
Cast is King (and Queen)
Fichtner’s narration of The Plastic Men is brilliant. He adds the right amount of tired relief and pathos. Fichtner is so good, in fact, that I initially did not recognise his voice. He has embraced the character he is voicing with an amount of perfection that is beyond truth.
Preston embodies his physical performance with a deep understanding of mental anguish and pain. The veterans from Vietnam were the only troops to return from a war they lost. Atrocities committed by others were the badge they all had to carry.
Kudos to Melanie Martyn and Gigi Gustin as well as Sarah Nicklin; they all brought a certain truth to their roles. And a special shout out to Aaron Dalla Villa as Abbott. He rocks it here with a scenery chewing aplomb that is as disturbing as it is moving. In fact all the actors in the Veteran self-help group kill it here.
*Personal note: By the grace of God I missed Vietnam. I was just that bit too young. But I worked with veterans and listened, when they wanted to talk . Eight years after the war ended, I went to join the USAF. A flower child artist I met was saddened and said to me, “You don’t look like no baby killer honey. Turn away.” *
it works
The Plastic Men works. We are made privy to Jonathan’s journey. His flashbacks, his internal battle with guilt and the agony he feels. As we follow this story, we feel not just his pain, but that of the other veterans he meets along the way. It is a harrowing experience.
The Verdict
The Plastic Men earns a stressful 5 stars out of 5. Samuel Gonzalez Jr knocks this one right out of the metaphorical park. The film streams on Amazon Prime today, 3 March. Go and check it out.
It will move you.
The Trailer
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