Tape

The cinematic wasteland is strewn with filmed stage plays — many of them acclaimed works that failed on the big screen because the director was unable to "open up" material more suited for the stage.

So perhaps it's fortunate for maverick filmmaker Richard Linklater that his uneven but ultimately rewarding, even thought-provoking, adaptation of "Tape" doesn't require much in the way of "opening up." After all, the source material — playwright Stephen Belber's tense little thriller — takes place solely within the confines of a tiny motel room.

And what that means for Linklater is that all he needs to do is set up his camera — in this case, high-definition digital-video cameras — in that rather limited environment and let his extremely talented cast do the rest.

However, as strong as the performances are, there are times that the film is about as much fun as actually spending 90 minutes in a motel room filled with acrimony, bitterness and suspicions.

Not to give too much away, but the film's title refers to a dirty trick engineered by substance-abusing Vince (Ethan Hawke). Though it's been 10 years since he graduated from high school, Vince is having a hard time letting go of the past — something that becomes all too apparent to his former school pal, John Salter (Robert Sean Leonard).

Now an independent filmmaker, John happens to be in Lansing, Mich., on the same weekend as Vince, who insists the two meet at his motel. But rather than catching up, it seems Vince would prefer to badger John about an incident in his past. It seems John may have raped a mutual acquaintance.

If that isn't uncomfortable enough, Vince has also invited the woman in question (played by Uma Thurman, Hawke's real-life spouse) to show up and seems intent on provoking emotional fireworks.

Working from a scripted adaptation by Belber, Linklater sets things up well, especially the "twist" toward the end. And despite the fact that the film feels a little too talky, the seemingly intrusive, up-close camera work helps add to a general air of unease.

Still, it's the cast's film to sink or swim, and for the most part, it's the latter. Leonard and Thurman are nicely controlled, though there are times when Hawke's showier, more frantic performance threatens to overwhelm them.

"Tape" is rated R for frequent use of strong profanity, simulated drug use (marijuana, as well as cocaine disposal), use of crude sexual slang terms and some vulgar sexual talk, and brief violence (a scuffle). Running time: 86 minutes.

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