First, the Recap:
Love can be a fickle, quirky thing. Sometimes, we just cannot explain why some things work and others don’t when it comes to matters of the heart. In 1964 Hollywood, the media awaits with anticipation to receive a live broadcast phone call from eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes (Warren Beatty) refuting a story about him. However, turn the clock back 5 years where we find one of Hughes’ drivers, Frank (Alden Ehrenreich), becoming infatuated with a young woman Hughes has called to Tinseltown for an audition, Marla (Lily Collins). Knowing it could cost him his job, Frank insists on trying to win Marla’s heart, even as she inexplicably gets swept off her feet by another. Soon, the ensuing firestorm of hurt feelings, betrayals, bad choices, and regrets envelops them all, including another of Hughes’ drivers, Levar (Matthew Broderick), his company’s CEO Noah Dietrich (Martin Sheen), and a host of others.
Worth Seeing: NO
I have the utmost respect for Beatty as an actor over an impressive career, but sadly this writing/directing/co-producing effort from the Hollywood veteran was a complete and utter snooze-fest for me. The pacing of the film was off, and the overall delivery of the story itself seemed to just drag on without truly offering anything to be absolutely engaged by. Talk about a cast here–Beatty, Ehrenreich, Collins, Broderick, and Sheen are joined by appearances from Ed Harris, Paul Sorvino, Candice Bergen, Annette Benning, Chace Crawford, Tessa Farmiga, Amy Madigan, Alec Baldwin, Oliver Platt–need I go on? Yet, none of them could even save the tedious nature of the project, plus it was so overtly convoluted for the already irregular love story it was aiming to be between Ehrenreich, Collins, and Beatty’s characters. For all the comedic, dramatic, and romantic gestures attempted, this is one film that should NOT have followed its title’s theme.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
