Simply put Warren Beatty’s worst film ever.
The unconventional love story of an aspiring actress, her determined driver, and their boss, eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes.
It’s never promising when the release date for a film is shifted numerous times and then upon international release the film flopped. However, I still had a glimmer of hope that this could be good. Beatty’s writing and direction is often strong and he makes so few films that it should be good. I was disappointed. The script was filled with historical inaccuracies, that aside it didn’t know who its leading character was. It eventually became an ensemble piece, but no one character was ever allowed to develop long enough before switching to another. The romance portrayed in the trailer is a minor part of the story.
The cinematography is glorious, Hollywood knows how to shoot Hollywood best. The acting is still really strong and the only thing that saves the train wreck. Matthew Broderick is most surprisingly the stand-out. While his performance has a touch of comedy, his ability to play dramatic scenes grows only stronger with time - much like Steve Carrell. Lily Collins is a wonderfully talented young performer and I look forward to seeing her in roles that give her more to work with. Alden Ehrenreich who was enchanting in Hail Cesar is barely convincing in this and it sheds due concern on his upcoming Han Solo film. Martin Sheen, Annette Bening, Alec Baldwin, Candice Bergen, Hayley Bennett, Megan Hilty, Paul Schneider, Ed Harris, Oliver Platt and Steve Coogan comprise the rest of the ever growing ensemble. Some characters are barely memorable, while Beatty can assemble some of Hollywood’s best he really didn’t need them all! Beatty himself is strong, but the material he gave himself is the best.
Overall even the stars can’t save this disastrous film.
1.5 Stars
Review by Benjamin Maio Mackay
Screening courtesy of Palace Nova Cinemas
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