Review of Suburbicon (2017) by John H — 26 Oct 2017

Have you ever walked into a movie theater really wanting to like a movie, excited for a film? The cast featured are some of your favorites, the writers have penned several other films you've enjoyed, the director has an aesthetic about him that you share.

Then you walk out of the film...

...dismayed, confused and wanting your money back!

Well that was my experience with Suburbicon.

I usually try and keep things a bit formal on here when it comes to my reviews, but in all honesty, this film was a huge misstep for the Coen Brothers and George Clooney who wrote and directed the film respectively.

Misstep is to nice of a word. This film was a train wreck!

Suburbicon did not know what it was, it did not establish a clear theme, had huge tone problems, there was no real character arches or development and the main plot, which seems to be a retread of Fargo, was muddled with the insertion of social commentary and religious metaphors that didn't fit. Suburb icon essentially tried to do way to much and in attempting so did everything horribly wrong from a narrative perspective.

I don't even know how to begin to describe the plot. Suburbicon tells the story of a hideous murder and coverup that takes place in an ICONic SUBURBAN American town and all the chaos that ensues. It is essentially a murder mystery, wrapped in social commentary, wrapped in a 1950's period piece, wrapped in satire, wrapped in a Shakespearian tragedy, wrapped in a film noir, placed in quirky a Coen Brothers box with a George Clooney address label placed on the front.

The cinematography was typical of a Coen Brothers film and it would seem Clooney takes all his directorial cues from them.

The performances are fine. The shear star power in this film is what first got my attention. Matt Damon, Julianne Moore and Oscar Issac are all favorites of mine and Hollywood A listers to boot! They all did fine with what they were given but nothing too amazing from the onset. This is what makes this film so much more disappointing! So many talented people involved, yet it just couldn't be saved.

I'm keeping this one short.

Just don't!

You'll leave the theater confused and frustrated.

I know the Coen brothers are quirky and unconventional, which is why I still love them, but this film is a mess! Skip it! Especially if you are a fan of Matt Damon or Julianne Moore as the taste of these wonderful actors in this dumpster fire of a film, will not wash out of your mouth too easily.

Possibly the worst film I've seen in 2017 and I've seen the Emoji Movie!