Paul H

Adam Sandler's portrayal of Howard shows a depth I didn't he was capable of -- really brilliant acting. The movie is well-paced, the tension steadily building to the shocking if somewhat inevitable climax. The supporting cast members -- particularly Julia Fox and Judd Hirsch -- are excellent, their roles serving to keep Howard in an ever more dizzying downward spiral to the very end. The Safdies' script, in some ways reminiscent of The Friends of Eddie Coyle, is crisp and unburdened by excessive complexity. Probably my favorite film of 2019, and one that certainly towers above all of Sandler's previous work. Make no mistake: This is primarily a serious of sometimes comedic character study as well as a taught thriller.

Visually interesting film, but in essence it's banal and predictable teen-boy fantasy fluff. Ultimately fails to engender any affinity for the main characters. Female characters were mere tropish, two-dimensional Cruise props. A disappointingly boring, generic Tom Cruise Saves the World Movie set in post-apocalyptica.