Publish or Perish

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.

This is a very entertaining movie. They did great work with Cinematography and their story, I was intrigued the whole time. They kept me waiting to see what happens next. Acting was phenominal and theres a goofiness to the horror which makes it more of a unique film. The intensity plus casualness to the whole plot makes it worth wild. I was constantly wondering where this story was going, which is great for me because I can usually figure out what is going to happen when I watch a movie. If you have not seen it, I recommend this movie! Watched it twice in a day! Definitley a good find. Great work on all cast and crew.

"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.

With so many formulaic films, it's rare to find one that can surprise me. Publish or Perish is a breath of fresh air. Superbly acted by Timothy McCracken, deftly directed by David Liban and intricately edited by Justin Lewis. Cast and crew from Colorado, creates a celebration of local artists and dark comedy at its best! My husband and teenage son and I enjoyed seeing this on the big screen at the Denver film festival. Looking forward to sharing it with friends and family and watching it again where it's streaming on Apple TV. Do yourselves a favor and check it out. I imagine teachers and professors will find this especially satisfying and cathartic!

Easily one of the top 5 films I've seen in 2023... A filmmaker with a real vision.

The dialogue, characters, story, and overall polish make this a must watch! In fact immediately after watching it I was ready for another viewing. The twists, turns, shocking events, suspense, comedy, and character all work so so so well together.

What David has done hear is make something greater than the sum of it's parts. A strong script, strong performances, an intriguing premise, and pacing all come together in this one.

It's getting in to film festivals across the county and with good reason. This is a MASTERPIECE.