As I was walking out of the theatre, shaking my head, I casually said to another theatre goer, "That's the Cohen brothers for you!", to which he replied, "Wasn't it great!".
So, I asked, "What did you like about it? Is it biting social commentary ....?" "No," said he, "It's just how messed up people can be, who appear to be normal."
So, there you have it! The critical divide on the storytelling - my reaction, "What was THAT about?"; his reaction, "Wasn't that GREAT!"
However, I thought the acting was great, especially Noah Jupe, who played the young son caught in a world of evil and terror. George Clooney, who is a devotee of all things Cohen-esk, did a great job interpreting this deeply flawed suburban landscape. The sub-plot of racial hatred, victimization and brutal threat against the black family next door was chilling, especially the way the the culture scapegoated them to avoid their own personal responsibilities (particularly resonant in the current White House). And the dark humour made you laugh despite yourself (unlike the current White House).
Though there was much good about this film, I can only give this a 4 (poor) out of 10. I just don't get it! But, you might, and, if so, it is an 8 (great) out of 10.
Review by Nancy L DraperVIP 8BlockedParent2017-11-09T14:26:52Z
As I was walking out of the theatre, shaking my head, I casually said to another theatre goer,
"That's the Cohen brothers for you!",
to which he replied, "Wasn't it great!".
So, I asked, "What did you like about it? Is it biting social commentary ....?"
"No," said he, "It's just how messed up people can be, who appear to be normal."
So, there you have it! The critical divide on the storytelling -
my reaction, "What was THAT about?";
his reaction, "Wasn't that GREAT!"
However, I thought the acting was great, especially Noah Jupe, who played the young son caught in a world of evil and terror. George Clooney, who is a devotee of all things Cohen-esk, did a great job interpreting this deeply flawed suburban landscape. The sub-plot of racial hatred, victimization and brutal threat against the black family next door was chilling, especially the way the the culture scapegoated them to avoid their own personal responsibilities (particularly resonant in the current White House). And the dark humour made you laugh despite yourself (unlike the current White House).
Though there was much good about this film, I can only give this a 4 (poor) out of 10. I just don't get it! But, you might, and, if so, it is an 8 (great) out of 10.