Review of Jack Goes Boating (2010) by Arlene S — 27 Mar 2011

I was greatly anticipating the directorial debut of one of my favorite actors, Philip Seymour Hoffman, but unfortunately it turns out to be a mixed bag. The performances are strong, which is to be expected, and it's contrast of a crumbling marriage with a new, flourishing relationship makes for a moving dichotomy.

Nevertheless, it's light on plot and feels aimless at times, with lots of incredibly awkward moments amid some surprisingly dark ones. It works as a character study but isn't quite as strong as a feature film, and I hope Hoffman can continue to hone his talent behind the camera in the near future.