Publish or Perish

I had the pleasure to see "Publish or Perish" theatrically for the first time at the Oceanside Intenational Film Festival.

What you notice is that the film is complelling from the very beginning to the last scene. Seeing it with a live audience has an impact as they react to some of the most shocking events that unfold is dark suspense comedy. If you like the Coen Brothers style and substance then David Liban's feature will entertain and draw you deep into the main characters dilemma.

This is a polished gem, in which every character has a reason to antagonize our hero in his quest for the academic gold ring of tenure at any cost.

Little known fact to those outside academia circles, the title, "Publish or perish" is not a clever alliteration created by the director, but actually an age old aphorism describing the pressure to publish academic work in order to succeed in an academic career, first used in 1928. This institutional pressure can feel life or death for many young professors seeking tenure, which is the only academic appointment that protects them from being let go without cause.

As for the actual film? So much lost potential. There were moments of real laughter and pockets of suspense, but overall the acting was appalling. And I saw the stupid "trust" ending coming a mile away.

Could have been so, so, so, so much better. The academia humor was spot on, but unfortunately they let it go to waste with this film.

Dark humor? More like a B horror film. But not a good one.

This review isn't very polished. I'm also not going into very much depth in an attempt to match the review quality to the film quality?

TLDR: Many laughs for those in academia, but not really worth enduring the entire film. Anyone else, no reason to even try watching.

As a former professor of English, I can attest that there is nothing more petty than university politics. It's a topic worthy of satire, and this film delivers it. But there are some major flaws.

A dark comedy about an English professor trying to get tenure, Publish or Perish has some amusing moments, but somevof the dialogue sounds awkward and fake. There are also some inexcusable factual errors. The professor refers to his classes as "English Literature," but in a early scene, he's teaching Kurt Vonnegut. Later, he goes to a junkyard to get a wheel, but it's actually a tire. Any screenwriter worth his or her salt would spot these mistakes and correct them.

In addition, the lack of character development undermines any kind of emotional investment in the players. The protagonist professor is distinctly rude and unlikable, but we're given no idea why. The college dean is a stereotypical pompous ass, bereft of any nuance. The professor's wife is little more than an appendage of her husband. What's missing here is any kind of insight into these people's personalities.

To its credit, the film's plot gets fairly suspenseful, and its absurdist approach is consistent.

This is not a bad movie, just one that needs more depth in its characters and some work on the script.

This funny dark comedy will keep you riveted to your seats throughout! The storyline centers around an English professor obsessed by securing a tenured position in a college but a number of unusual events in his life places unexpected and unusual obstacles in his path. Some scary moments but they are largely balanced by really funny scenes and sometimes subtle humor. This movie will make you wonder throughout, how it possibly could end, in light of all improbable situations encountered by the main character.

The actors did a wonderful job overall, by providing the audience with many opportunities to laugh wholeheartedly in spite of some scary situations.

"Publish or Perish," the latest film from writer-director David Liban, is a tense and thought-provoking dark comedy that explores the dark side of ambition and obsession.

The movie centers around a professor named Jim Bowden, played brilliantly by Timothy McCracken, who is determined to get tenure at his university. When he accidentally kills a student and tries to cover it up, his life begins to spiral out of control, leading him down a dangerous path of deceit and paranoia.

James Shanklin delivers a standout performance as Dean Crawley, the university official who becomes suspicious of Bowden's behavior and starts to investigate him. The tension between the two characters is palpable, and the scenes they share are some of the most gripping in the film.

Director David Liban masterfully weaves together a tightly knit plot that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. The pacing is just right, and the story unfolds in a way that feels both organic and unpredictable.

What really sets "Publish or Perish" apart, however, is its exploration of the themes of ambition and obsession. The movie asks important questions about the price of success and the lengths people are willing to go to achieve it. It's a thought-provoking and timely examination of the pressures that individuals face in today's society.

Overall, "Publish or Perish" is a powerful film that delivers on every level. It's a must-see for anyone who enjoys dark comedies or is interested in exploring the darker side of human nature.