SomeoneInSeattle

This film has been well-received by established critics. This Average Moviestreamer, having watched The Vast of Night, finds that puzzling. This film is underwhelming. It attempts to be a homage to Serling's Twilight Zone, but fails to replicate it. There is an initial Serling-esque voiceover over black and white footage formatted for a 50s-era TV screen - cute. This is revisited a couple times (apparently we need reminders) but little here actually honors TZ. This film is too dialogue heavy - seriously, it is leaden and crippled by endless chatter. The film starts with 15 minutes of banter. No incipient action for 15 minutes, just stereotypes chattering at each other in faux-50s lingo. Endless, boring static shots. And, ultimately, no suspense. None. The critics are dead wrong about The Vast of Night.

I'm not happy giving this film adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream only six stars, because much of it is very clever. The film works best when it's remix of the plays themes with modern elements, but at times it is more of a mashup, cutting and pasting elements from other Shakespeare plays into the narrative (such as quotes from other plays appearing on paper weights, a character reciting lines from Hamlet while lacking on the phone). At too many moments, the film becomes self-conscious and cute - which becomes tiresome. Too bad. I really like Shakespeare and much of the remixing here was a kick. But the director lost the play's narrative which drops this film to a six star affair.

Excellent work from Hamish Linklater here. Lily Rabe and Rachael Leigh Cook are strong, as well. And, despite the 6 star review, this is a very talented director - I hope she gets other opportunities.