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Wow this movie is insane and intense. Insanely stupid and intensely boring one star I'm throwing this movie away I hope it never Finds Me Again
Rated 0.5/5 Stars •
Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars
08/13/23
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Audience Member
Wcreenwriter Daniel Handler [(a.k.a. Lemony Snicket)] employs an O. Henry-like twist of irony that first-time director Curtiss Clayton telegraphs long before it strikes.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
01/25/23
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Audience Member
Oh the holiday season can bring joy and cheer among the flutter of fortunate folks with happy go lucky lifestyles. Curses to them all for being given the lives they lead!
Based partially on the opera 'Rigoletto' which told the story of a curse placed on the licentious Duke of Mantua and his hunch-backed court jester Rigoletto. In this film version of the opera, Rick would be Rigoletto while the Duke would still be the Duke, but referred to as Big Boss. I'll explain more dear reader, but don't expect happiness abound for this tragic tale set around Christmas of a wall street man who falls from grace for being naughty and not nice.
The poor soul here is Rick O' Lette. He is an executive at an corporation known as 'Image'. For his age, you would think he'd be the boss of this company. He is not. That belongs to a young douchebag named Duke. Duke is the type of boss that cockroaches would surely honor if he were ever the ruler of cockroaches. He is as mean spirited as Rick is, but if Rick were to have any redeeming qualities it would be that his lack of conscious towards ever being nice to people may stem from the fact that his wife passed on. It could be the only reason why Rick is the way he is, but sadly an excuse of that sort behavior won't help when he humiliates a nice young Japanese woman who was simply trying to apply for a job at the company.
Her name is Michelle and during her interview Rick systematically insults her. Later while hanging with Duke at a club, he bumps into her there as she is his waitress. Even there he insults her until she can't take it any more. She curses the son of a bitch and quits her job. At this point forward, the curse is set in place. Rick is challenged through several series of shocking turn events that involve an old college buddy who is a hit man and Rick's daughter, Eve.
From the Opera, Eve would be represented as Rigoletto's daughter Gilda. Same as from the Opera except changed around in the film for a more modern setting, Eve is seduced by Duke through cyber sexing sessions she has with him. At first the knowledge of Duke being her father's boss doesn't become known until one night Rick bumps into him while having dinner with his daughter and Rick slips out Duke's nickname 'Big Boss'. Big Boss is the handle that Duke uses for cyber sexing. This intrigues Eve and as a result she's invited to the big Christmas Party where Duke plans to fuck her silly, but to Duke he believes he's about to bang Rick's wife. How disappointed he will be.
Eve, sadly, believes herself to be doomed. She mentions it constantly in the film. She's one of those girls who get so affected by losing one's mother or father that they act out in ways that are self destructive. It's understandable, but her doom is due in part by her own father's doing. I won't spoil it, but if you've ever read about the Opera for which this film is based than you'll probably know what had happened to poor Gilda. Same here befalls poor Eve.
This all may be very disturbing or dark, it is, but there are small moments between Rick and his daughter that are tragic and are probably the only time you can connect with Rick himself. The death of his wife could be the reason why he is the way he is and now that she's gone, well, nothing seems to matter any more to him. Not even being nice. The writer of 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' penned this charming yuletide nightmare and he needs to KEEP writing stuff like this! The direction is handled well by Curtiss Clayton and the cast from Bill Pullman, Agnes Bruckner and Aaron Stanford did a splendid job.
So in the spirit of the holiday season, try to be naughty, cruel to your fellow man and have any piece of emotion that will require feelings to be tossed in the fireplace of burning hopes and desires.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/20/23
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Audience Member
I've been a fan of Bill Pullman since Spaceballs. An underrated actor with a talent for both comedy and drama. This is one of his darkest movies. Some edgy plot twists. Nothing is as it seems. Great supporting cast.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
01/25/23
Full Review
Audience Member
The only reason I rented this was because of Daniel Handler, whose Lemony Snicket books I love, and Bill Pullman who I find a very unique and interesting actor. Having said that, I found this film pretty hard to like, but I suppose it's meant to be that way. I thought the message of how surrounding yourself with corruption and cruel, disgusting people can turn you into one of them was interesting, but overall I just didn't care for the film that much. The ending was excellent, but the dark, dirty tone throughout most of the film is uncomfortable and a bit off-putting.
Rated 2.5/5 Stars •
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars
02/22/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Rick is an asshole who deserves what he's about to get after humiliating an asian woman who was just wanting a job. In the interview he systematically leads her on and insults her. When he goes to a club, she happens to be his waitress and he still insults her again. This time she doesn't take it anymore and puts a curse on him. Also there's Rick's daughter Eve, who has cyber sex with Rick's much younger boss, Duke, played by Aaron Stanford. When Rick and Eve go to a business party Duke assumes that Eve is Rick's wife and immediately wants to bang her and does. I don't want to spoil too much, but it's sad to what else also happens to Eve. I'll just leave it at that. Also there's Buck, Rick's College buddy who has his own business: Killing business competitors. I thought that was funny. He's played by Dylan Baker. He does a good job. They all did an excellent job at being rotten. With the acting aside, I must also praise the cinematography which looked beautiful. Don't expect to like the story of this film because it's not something to like. It is however a film of cruel, backstabbing and loathsome characters which I couldn't care for except to feel glad I wasn't them. So, when you're watching this film just feel thankful that you're not like Rick.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
01/19/23
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