Edward Asher

Fascinating character study. Beautifully produced with top-notch performances, settings, and sound/music. Non-opera connoisseurs (i.e damn near everybody) will likely find it slow, moving and boring, particularly because of its Euro-boy arrogant ‘feeeeelm’ elements which add 20- 25 unnecessary minutes. But it is certainly not the last over-engineered Europe product with good-excellent quality. Angelina Jolie nearly acts her lips off In a remarkably intense-yet intimate- performance. The music treads heavily on the Opera’s Greatest Hits Vol. 1 disc but threaded together effectively. With more directorial restraint would be a best picture contender.

Completely contrived drivel and a narrative mess. Tom Hanks should have known better than to get entangled with this maudlin, one dimensional character and a lame script seemingly crafted by a bottom tier grad student at the NYU feelm school. How the hell can 10 months of time seemingly pass somewhere in the PA rust belt yet 2” of snow perpetuates every scene? How does a fat Gen Z get away with playing 20-something Hanks? We all saw Bachelor Party (wretched 80s garbage but a far superior movie) and no reality suspension supports this casting. Gratuitously diverse neighbors paint a predictably inaccurate picture of what Hollywood thinks middle America looks like. And clumsily throwing in a Breakfast at Tiffany’s cat can’t bring any audience empathy to this eye sore project. And don’t get me started about the neighbor’s 28 lb. newborn. My eyes cramped from rolling scene after scene at this mess. Hanks mumbles, grimaces and groans his way through his ‘I AM ANY ANGRY OLD WHITE GUY’ schtick which wears out its welcome 5 minutes into the film. Truly his worst performance since - we’ll, Batchelor Party. Do yourself a favor - stay home.