3lazycats

Great premise with some chilling moments, but overall whatever greatness this movie could have aspired to was lost to it's bloated script and forgettable, unlikeable characters.

There was one character who was likeable and interesting - played by Farrah Mackenzie who was an absolute standout in this film. This young actress was the emotional center of the film, and I feel very strongly if the film had been trimmed down to only focus on her actions/reactions this film would have been exceptional.

But it wasn't. At best this move is a slightly above average. It has all of the very best ingredients for an excellent film, but it falls flat which makes it all the more disappointing.

Just another Succession Wedding, with cake, champagne and canapes. Something happens that effects the stock price of Waystar. There's the usual amount of confusion, drama and difficulties communicating.

Once again with Succession, we have an episode where 90% of the scenes are just people talking. The inciting incident happens off camera, and the confusion and mounting tension in this episode is expressed entirely through dialog.

And it's exquisite. It was the best episode thus far, in a show that has consistently been excellent.

The acting is absolutely remarkable, with impeccable performances from the entire cast. Every single person on screen is pitch perfect; and the ensemble elevates one another.

This film intensely reminded me of the social dynamics I experienced 20+ years ago the year I worked at Outback Steakhouse during grad school. The vast majority of front house people were college students who were simply temporarily working class. The kitchen/prep staff were actually working class. And the management were all working class people who were putting on their very best corporate/middle class faces in the front of the house, and would immediately class-shift once they walked into the kitchen.

One of the kitchen staff was promoted to assistant manager, and took over the schedule. Over the course of a few weeks, she realized how much power she had over the entire staff and became a bully - vindictive, side-dealing and corrupt. I stayed off her radar for a long time, and passively watched it happen. Then one day, she just decided it was my turn, and she changed my schedule laughing about how I would never graduate because I would miss my classes.

So I just quit in the middle of my shift, and she yelled about how I would never be able to use them as a reference. And I said something like "I'm already a college graduate, and pretty soon I'll have an advanced degree and you'll still be here."

I haven't thought about any of that in years, but this film reminded me of how all of that felt. How much of a jerk I was when I quit, and how much a just a little bit of power can make anyone behave terribly.