Review of The Longest Week (2014) by Jason C — 04 Sep 2014
As The Longest Week unfolded, I couldn't help but see the nods by director Peter Glanz to great directors he must admire. It is a mash-up of Woody Allen neurosis and self-introspection and Wes Anderson whimsy (which critic Kurt Loder with Reason Online also noticed) and while the two could make for a great cinematic pairing .
.. this feature film isn't it. The film begins in fine-enough fashion as we are introduced to its protagonist Conrad Valmont (Jason Bateman - 'Arrested Development') who is doing nothing other than living off of his parents' dime in their fancy Manhattan hotel.
The film spans a week of time in which Conrad is disinherited, kicked out of his room, spars with his only friend (Billy Crudup - Almost Famous) and falls for a beauty named Beatrice (Olivia Wilde - Rush).
The film feels as if it spans months as Conrad and Beatrice's relationship evolves ... although it does so in a mere number of days. I did find myself chuckling a time or two and the cast is all adequate.
One of the film's highpoints is a double date with the three already mentioned with the addition of Jenny Slate (Obvious Child) in which the dialogue is its best point. Most of the "funny" of the film is in what people say .
.. so the film is a hard sell out of the gate; but it isn't good enough anywhere else to want to recommend it. I like the entire cast -- and the city locations are nicely shot -- but there isn't much here.
It is as empty as Conrad Valmont's hotel room post eviction.
This review of The Longest Week (2014) was written by Jason C on 04 Sep 2014.
The Longest Week has generally received mixed reviews.
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