Review of For Your Consideration (2006) by John A — 12 Mar 2008

A mildly amusing satire of Oscar season, Christopher Guest's dark and surprisingly deep situational comedy only just about works, thanks in large part to an impressive cast and some well rounded comic-timing.

While the film aims for awkward moments, quirky and intelligent dialogue and characters who slowly uncover themselves, it only seems to half achieve this. The script isn't sharp enough to evoke any laugh-out-loud moments, and the characters all seem only half-built, as though they were quickly thought out and then filming began straight away.

The film's parody of Hollywood talk shows and obsession of fame does, however, have a startling and alarming truth hidden beneath it, and the director carefully and cleverly infiltrates the character's lives until we are able to uncover the 'real' them.

One scene in particular, with a truly brilliant Catherine O'Hara as washed up has-been Marilyn Hack, desperately wanting to hear her name read out come Oscar nomination time, has a quiet sadness and pathos about it.

The film is cleverly built, the Oscar frenzy casually sneaking up on us until we really do want to hear the nominations, and see if the characters make it - the tension is effective and the premise important, but what is lacking are focus, energy and cohesion, all of which seem to be mildly achieved (though not nearly enough) in half-hearted sort of ways.

The film has very little ambition too, and unfortunately becomes all too forgettable - adequate, but it certainly doesn't fulfil its potential.