2nd Chance

2nd Chance

“2nd Chance,” Ramin Bahrani’s first feature documentary, is a story that is very American, as noted by director Richard Davis. There are many good guys and bad guys in this story which means reinvention, self aggrandizement, hypocrisy and sincerity. The man who invented the modern bulletproof vest had some serious contradictions; there were many instances of desperation and deception hiding within his countrified manner.

Bahrani brings to life Davis as a character who is both fascinating and repulsive in equal measure through careful observation and light questioning as narration style. When the film begins to wander and get a bit untidy it is when he broadens his scope.

Not only does Bahrani attempt linking Davis with bigger issues having marked our nation for the past few decades such as the military industrial complex, police brutality or sex violence nexus but also shows that he has been interested in telling stories about injustice and cruelty through other films like “99 Homes” or “The White Tiger”. However, here the outcome suggests that instead of surrounding himself smartly around these large topics, he is simply testing waters with them.

In terms of fascination “2nd Chance” has one key figure from its start. In footage captured from archives we see Davis shooting himself in the chest so as to demonstrate how protected one can become by wearing his designed vest. He narrates this entire process so matter of factly; it will later be revealed that it was done 192 times throughout his life.

However , this bespectacled Michigan resident isn’t just a gun nut . Also, he makes movies besides being a showman. These low budget Bmovies are supposed to serve as glorified commercials for his former company Second Chance. They hilariously parody “Dirty Harry”.

What remains consistent regardless of whichever medium they were made for, all of this advertising material features bulletproof vests manufactured by him which save the day. More recently, watching him on the leather couch of his modest living room, you can tell that he takes an honest pride in having saved countless police officers’ lives. Although we’ll uncover a lot more dirt about Davis down the road, there is something sincere and noble in his sense of duty at least. Or used to be.

Still, this whole operation was also part of a larger effort to engage police officers with fear that criminals were always around them 24/7 until they died unless they bought additional units from him that is. In particular 9/11 was a boon for business allowing Davis to expand past individual police departments and into the broader United States military. The fact that he profited so gleefully off such unnecessary violence and suffering makes him kind of an abhorrent person who cloaks that instinct with self-mocking and sarcasm.

Both ex-wives highlight his narcissism which surprisingly comes from daddy issues he had for as long as he can remember . “Richard just really needs people to love him,” one recalls tiredly. However, this same strong personality prevents him from making too much self-criticism about all the criminal actions or illegal decisions as well any number of ruined lives.

So, is he a sociopath? A pathological liar? Or maybe he just made the mistake of believing his own hype and has surrounded himself with beefy macho men who share similar fascinations about gun culture. Bahrani allows Davis to tell his own story, completing the portrait of this complex figure through equally plain spoken but powerful conversations with former employees and colleagues as well as Davis’ son, with whom he now co-owns a new body armor business.

Yet, it is the interviews in the film’s epilogue that give it greater depth and shading; they raise the movie to unexpected emotional heights. This big reveal carries a huge punch and gives the film its title its real meaning.

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