Movie Review - Complete Unknown

Complete Unknown (2016)

Starring Rachel Weisz, Michael Shannon, Michael Chernus, Azita Ghanizada, Danny Glover, and Kathy Bates

Directed by Joshua Marston

**This film is currently streaming via Amazon Prime***

When Clyde (Michael Chernus) brings his new girlfriend Alice (Rachel Weisz) to the birthday party of his co-worker Tom (Michael Shannon), he doesn't expect her to be such a hit.  A biologist studying the recent discovery of a new species of frog just outside of New York City, Tom's party guests fawn over Alice's pleasant, slightly shy demeanor and unique job.  Tom, however, recognizes her right away and, as the night progresses, Alice proves to be a different person entirely from whom she initially presented herself.

That summary of Complete Unknown may make the film sound scandalous or even exciting...it's not. Instead writer-director Joshua Marston's film devolves into a rather boring piece that perhaps thinks it's important, but really ends up feeling rather pedestrian.  Rachel Weisz and Michael Shannon are captivating enough in the first half when there's some unknown tension as the two stare at each other across a room cluing in the audience that something isn't quite kosher.  However, as the second half begins and Alice's truth comes to the surface, it ends up being not all that interesting and the focus on it hurts the film.  This is director Joshua Marston's first English-language film and his eye behind the lens shows promise -- the opening sequence, as an example, sets a slightly creepy tone that the film can't sustain -- but Complete Unknown ends up a disappointment.

The RyMickey Rating:  C-

Movie Review - Mistress America

Mistress America (2015)

Starring Greta Gerwig, Lola Kirke, Matthew Shear, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Heather Lind, Michael Chernus, Cindy Cheung, and Kathryn Erbe

Directed by Noah Baumbach

***This film is currently available on HBO Now***

I simultaneously enjoyed and hated Mistress America as director/co-writer Noah Baumbach's film unfolded.  Something about the flick's two main characters -- a young college student named Tracy (Lola Kirke) and her thirty year-old soon-to-be stepsister Brooke (Greta Gerwig, who also co-wrote the film) -- had me both intrigued and appalled by their emotions, actions, and views on life.  This dichotomy was pretty consistent for me throughout the flick, but somehow, by the time the film ended, I was pleasantly amused by the proceedings in this odd screwball comedy.

Tracy is finding college difficult -- not so much in her studies, but in trying to relate with others.  On the urging of her mother (Kathryn Erbe), she calls up Brooke in an attempt to connect with the older gal who will be her stepsister.  Upon meeting her, Tracy becomes a bit entranced with Brooke's carefree, eclectic, adventurous lifestyle and it opens up the college student's eyes on how she can live her life more freely.

While the characters of Tracy and Brooke are well thought-out and fully realized, they're not exactly people with whom I really connected which is where that simultaneous enjoyment and irksomeness came into play.  Brooke, as an example, carries an aire of undeserved superiority that while appealing to the fresh-faced Tracy screams nothing but obnoxious to anyone else.  As the film progresses, however, I began to realize that this was sort of the point.  Whereas initially lauded, once Brooke's real life begins to show itself, we see that this character is more of a heartbreaking one as opposed to a vivacious being.  The film rather cleverly keeps things lighthearted throughout, but by the time the second and third acts roll around, we realize that there are deeper characterizations under the surface.

Lola Kirke is charming as the doe-eyed college student and her centered performance carries the movie.  Greta Gerwig is essentially playing nearly every other character I've seen her play before, but she admittedly has a presence about her that's undeniably watchable despite the fact that her roles are sometimes indiscernible from one another.  Here, she takes a screenplay co-written by her and creates a character that at times is grating (once again, hence the dislike of the flick at certain moments), but harbors much sorrow underneath the buoyant surface.  I'm not quite sure the character learns her lesson in the end or that she changes all that much, but I guess that's not the way life rolls sometimes. In the end Mistress America is an immensely watchable flick that while I can't say I loved was amusing enough to warrant a look.

The RyMickey Rating:  B-

Movie Review - People Places Things

People Places Things (2015)

Starring Jemaine Clement, Regina Hall, Stephanie Allynne, Jessica Williams, Michael Chernus, Gia Gadsby, and Andrea Gadsby 

Directed by Jim Strouse

***This film is currently streaming on Netflix***

Simple, yet charming, People Places Things tells the story of graphic artist Will Henry (Jemaine Clement) whose longtime girlfriend Charlie (Stephanie Allynne) reveals that she is leaving him on their twin daughters' fifth birthday.  Will spends a year focusing on teaching and when one of his students (Jessica Williams) sets him up with her English professor mother Diane (Regina Hall), Will begins to realize that there may be life for him outside of Charlie.

While I recognize that Jemaine Clement's dryly humorous personality may not be for everyone, I was a big fan of his short-lived comedy series Flight of the Conchords and Clement's tone is very similar in director-writer James Strouse's film.  Clement exudes a lackadaisical, yet caring nature and he brings a heartfelt (and sometimes heartbroken) drollness to the film that many actors may find difficult to convey.  Regina Hall provides a nice counterpoint, playing a very intelligent woman who wants her college age daughter to realize her mother can be strongly independent, yet also wants to find that special someone with whom to share her life.

No one will ever mistake People Places Things for being incredibly deep, but it brings a believably humorous treatment to a somewhat hefty life situation.  Clement and the cast do a great job of carrying both the comedic and dramatic moments of the film.  Sometimes these low-budget indie comedies can seem too "edgy" or "hip" for their own good.  That's not the case here in the slightest -- if anything, Clement's character is a bit of an anti-hipster (despite being a comic book artist).  I appreciated this tone that writer Strouse brings and I'm definitely interested in seeing his work in the future.

The RyMickey Rating:  B