If you know anything about this movie, it's probably that Conan O'Brien co-stars in a non-comedic role. But really? Non-comedic? I mean...you can read its whimsical title for yourself. This must be a comedy. Say, a dark comedy. Or a satirical comedy. Or a dramedy. But certainly, comedy must be involved in some way, right?
No. Here are a few movies I thought of: The Babadook. Son of Saul. Eraserhead. This is a grim, intense entry in the Anxiety Attack Cinema of the last ten years (see, for instance, the films of the Safdie brothers--including Marty Supreme).
Get the idea of laughs out of your head, because you don't want to be distracted by waiting for this to get funny. You want to pay close attention. Information here comes in small shots from oblique angles. And you want to make sure you pick up as much as you can, because you are not going to want to watch this movie a second time.
Writer-Director Mary Bronstein takes some big, ambtitious, even experimental swings here. They do not all work out. The movie is too long and has several subplots that could be pared down. Australian actress Danielle MacDonald is terrible—I assume because she's concentrating on her accent. But in terms of using the techniques of cinema to put you in the state of mind of a protagonist, this is a phenomenal film.
As for the Conan factor, his presence is distracting at first, but it ends up working very well. The subplot with him is remarkable in terms of what and how it is able to communicate.
You should see this movie, but let me just be honest: you're not going to like it. It's not the kind of movie you enjoy, it's the kind you endure. But hey, it's December, time for those kinds of movies. And this is one of the best of the year.
If I Had Legs I'd Kick You
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