Subsurface Flow

As film critic and fan of independent cinema, I've become quite found of Robert Longstreet. As per usual, his performance pops off the screen, always making each character his own and strikingly interesting. Unfortunately, the same can't be said about the lead in this film Sean Meehan? He's amateur at best and makes you wonder why he was cast? Was there no other options? Maybe the filmmaker is from the mid-west and options were limited? Maybe because he was a writer on the film? Whatever the case, it's too bad. Other than the sub par performance by Meehan, the film itself isn't bad actually. But how does one discuss mise-en-scene, story, character, etc when one of the forefront fixtures (the lead in this case) is so out of sync with style and ability. I know most young filmmakers cast their friends, but we must ask from cinema and the people creating it. McLaughlin seems to have potential from seeing this film and I look forward to what he provides in the future in skill and scope.