There’s Always Hope has a thought-provoking premise, but it’s nearly ruined by a very contrived ending. It’s as if the filmmakers – having asked some tough questions about human nature (questions to which there are no easy answers) – simply threw up their hands.

The set-up is a familiar one: an idealistic young fan (Jessica Shannon) meets her hero (Amil Abolesco), who turns out to be a crushing disappointment. The hero in this case is a futurist and published author who believes that human ingenuity is “the most powerful force in the universe.” Or so he says in his books; in life, he’s a cynical SOB who writes but because he likes the money.

Shannon and Abolesco are ideally cast, but they look a little stranded when the story turns into a heated philosophical debate. Screenwriter Reg Heide should have allowed the characters more room to live and breathe. Better writing might have prevented a flubbed line like this one: “I wanted to know what you thought about the growing impact on environmental grassroots movements on the establishment in developing countries.” I think Shannon meant to say, “…the growing impact OF environmental movements…” But it’s not her fault; the line is hard to say because no one would say it.

Still, I recommend the film for its style and the issues it addresses. Director of photography Sasha Moric makes the most of the film’s two locations: a bookstore and later a bar. The colors are warmer in the bookstore and the framing is wide open, representing the young idealist’s vision of the world as a big place full of possibilities. In the bar, we enter the futurist’s world – the lighting is darker and the framing more closed-in. Lots of elements come together in this film; it just needed a better ending.