Review of In a World... (2013) by Bill H — 01 Jan 2014

My Lake Bell experience was seeing her in a few bad Ashton Kutcher movies, and here she is writing, directing, and starring in my pick for the best film of 2013.

Just what is it about In A World... that won me over? Maybe it's just the uniqueness of it, that it doesn't feel like a throwback but a step in the right direction. Or maybe I find the oddities and insights of Lake Bell quite funny, or that her script and direction showcase her as a worthwhile newcomer in the movie business. Or maybe I just like movies about movies--actually, this movie is about movie trailers and voice acting, but still formidable components in showbiz. To somewhat borrow a line from this film, it may not be the "best" that 2013 had to offer, but its overall presentation serves a greater meaning.

It's quite a unique and original piece of work about movie-trailer voice overs. Today, I don't think there are many trailers that feature a voice over but I'm sure plenty of us remember when some trailers began with the cliche, "In a world...," uttered by the legendary Don LaFontaine. This is a real treat for film lovers, very light-hearted and charming with plenty of wit; however it seems to elevate above most movies about movies, or movies about Hollywood. There's so few characters in this movie but stories and themes are very diverse it's quite amazing how much ground was covered. It's a sweet romantic comedy, it's a coming-of-age story, it's a father-daughter conflict, it's about embracing your independence, it's about finding your voice, and it's quite a brilliant satire on Hollywood and illustrates this rampant sexism that is on-going in the work force. It's quite a pro-feminist feature albeit very subtle and humorous and rarely falters to cliches and thus is remarkably complex. Very clever and quite ambitious even if the whole thing appears simple or like an ode to the art of movie trailers.

Bell has the eye of a critic in her spot-on examination of social and business relations; very subtle and she made quite a funny movie. I guess for a critic such as myself, it's no wonder this film greatly appeals to my warped sensibilities. It's a film for the critic, for the film lover, for the feminist, for the writer, the historian--actually, it should be a film for everyone which sadly may not be the case. Bell's script should be taught and studied in film schools, or just taught and studied in general. The script for In A World... is masterful. More can be said about Lake Bell's masterful achievement in writing, humor, critique, and so forth--I mean, even its flaws are notable--but anyway, In A World... is the best film of 2013 for these reasons and then some.