Movie Review by Neils Hesse
Starring: Jason Schwartzman, Isabelle Huppert, Dustin Hoffman, Lily Tomlin, Jude Law
Director: David O Russell
Sometimes when a film tries to be too clever it succeeds only in alienating its audience and alas this seems to be the case with this outing for director David O Russell – allow me to elaborate. A young man played by Jason Schwartzman tries to find meaning in his life by hiring two existential detectives avidly played by Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin to check him out and as such help him to discover the true meaning to his life and the whole purpose of life in general. Cue a disillusioned fireman played by Mark Wahlberg, an ambitious executive (Jude Law) with his confused model girlfriend as embodied by Naomi Watts and throw in the most pessimistic life councillor I have ever seen on screen played by Isabelle Huppert and hey presto you have the movie in a nutshell. Oh, I forgot to add there is also a cameo by Shania Twain.
Quite frankly this film aims to be quirky in a funny way but ends up running around in so many circles that it makes itself and the audience dizzy in a bad way. Despite some interesting performances across the board , a very funny hairstyle sported by Dustin Hoffman and one engaging scene at a dinner table with a typical American family the whole movie just seems quite pointless.
It is an interesting idea but perhaps the script was underbaked, so in conclusion I personally recommend that you view it in the comfort of your home and only if you are curious or are a fan of the many good actors in it. But as a piece of entertainment it does not particularly get any juices flowing.
