One of the dominant stories in twenty-first century America is the story of the side hustle. Practically, it exists to give you a little extra income. Emotionally, though, the side hustle is the place where dreams can exist.* If you grind as an influencer, a content creator, a writer, or a crypto investor, you live in a world of possibility. The right thing could happen – maybe? possibly? – and that thing could launch you into the stratosphere. So why not go for it? Why not take a chance, one that could change your life?

To my mind, that’s the core philosophy behind cryptocurrency, the idea that you – yes, you! – can be a financial success. All you need is an app, steely emotional control, and the ability to manage risk effectively. The problem is, most people are horrible at managing both risk and their emotions.** Instead, those people choose hope as a strategy. Hope, and the dopamine hits they get when their investment data spikes.

Then, they ultimately make decisions based on those dopamine hits, and the first time they taste a little success, they spend the rest of their time chasing that high. Sounds awfully similar to addiction, doesn’t it? The folks convinced that the crypto market will turn around after it crashes share a similar headspace to a heroin addict or gambling addict. The black comedy $Positions understands that, the idea that addiction is only about brief, grandiose highs and terrifying lows.

Mike (Michael Kunicki) is happy to tell everyone he doesn’t drink. Doesn’t smoke. Doesn’t do drugs of any kind. He has to stay sober, mostly because after the recent death of his mother, care of his developmentally disabled brother Vinny (Vinny Kres) falls to him. Mike also has to stay sober since his father (Guido Z. Cameli) is a dedicated drug addict and alcoholic. 

Really, though? Mike believes he needs to stay sharp to keep on top of his crypto trading habit. Sure, he works a menial job at a factory, but it’s only a matter of time before the right trades and the right timing changes everything. And wouldn’t you know it, that moment happens. Mike’s crypto app shows the value of his investments in real time. At this particular moment, the value is skyrocketing, shooting right to Mars.

So Mike does what any of us would do in that situation. First, he quits his job in the most obnoxious manner possible. Next, he asks…no, informs his girlfriend Charlene (Kaylyn Carter) that he wants an open relationship. The two of them haven’t had sex yet due to a minor erectile dysfunction issue, but Mike is sure that the ladies will flock to him due to his newfound wealth.

That’s when the problems begin to pile up on Mike. The open relationship works great for Charlene, and she immediately starts dating super-nice guy Lorenzo (Jeffrey A. Hunter). Not so much for Mike, since he has the rizz of week-old lutefisk. Even worse? Mike never bothers to sell his crypto when it’s high, and it begins to bottom out with frightening speed. Those lousy decisions affect Mike’s recovering addict cousin Travis (Trevor Dawkins), his kinda-sorta relationship with Charlene, his father’s health, his father’s house, and so much more.

If you like movies like After Hours and Uncut Gems, where an annoying motormouthed protagonist makes a series of increasingly terrible decisions, then you’re going to love $Positions. It’s Brandon Daley’s feature directing debut, and for the film’s ninety-seven minute runtime, he proceeds to stomp on the gas. The combination of jittery editing and jumpy handheld cinematography creates an effective atmosphere of anxiety. The entire time, we’re right next to Mike and witnessing him make things worse. I didn’t enjoy myself, but I have to say, Daley made exactly the movie he set out to make. 

I think the same goes for Daley’s screenplay. He’s laser-focused on telling a story about addiction, and on the one hand, it’s a success strictly through the lens of Mike’s characterization. While Mike is a teetotaler, with the exception of a truly vile gag, he’s still an addict and nearly every decision he makes is selfish. I should mention that Daley has made a black comedy, so don’t expect this to be a Requiem For a Dream-esque endurance test. There are moments that are very funny, it’s just that all of those moments are either disgusting, mean-spirited, or simply cringe. That’s not to say it’s a bad thing, and in fact, I laughed a few times. It’s just every time I laughed, I also said a variation of, “God, that’s awful.”

Because of the script’s approach, all of the characters are either actively horrible or collateral damage. I have to give Michael Kunicki all the credit in the world for his willingness to play Mike as nearly irredeemable. Most actors get squeamish when asked to play a rat bastard, yet Kunicki fearlessly portrays Mike as a semi-lovable sad sack, then pathetic, then an actively bad person. I was also highly impressed with Trevor Dawkins. As Travis, we meet him as newly sober and cautiously optimistic about his future. Unsurprisingly, Mike kicks Travis off the wagon, then sets the wagon on fire. When that happens, Dawkins shows Travis pinballing between being a violent brute and a desperately sad man going down with the ship. The rest of the cast is fairly one note, and I suspect that was intentional. Given that the film is locked into Mike’s POV, he fundamentally doesn’t really care about anyone, and everyone he comes into contact with is either a resource or an obstacle. 

There’s a saying in America that you’re far closer to homelessness than to becoming rich. $Positions understands that Darwinian fact. It also understands, with a vicious smile, that twenty-first century America is a place of desperation. You might begin your journey as an entrepreneur, and you’ll likely end it as an addict. 

*Not so much DoorDash, though. That’s where dreams go to die.

**For proof of that, I give you our President.

Tim Brennan Movie Critic

Tim has been alarmingly enthusiastic about movies ever since childhood. He grew up in Boulder and, foolishly, left Colorado to study Communications in Washington State. Making matters worse, he moved to Connecticut after meeting his too-good-for-him wife. Drawn by the Rockies and a mild climate, he triumphantly returned and settled down back in Boulder County. He's written numerous screenplays, loves hiking, and embarrassed himself in front of Samuel L. Jackson. True story.