Review of The Merry Gentleman (2008) by Casey B — 11 Jan 2010

Every great actor gets there moment to make their own film, and this is Michael Keaton's chance. The problem is, I just wish it was better then the final product. I'm really torn on this film because Michael Keaton gives a stellar performance as a troubled and suicidal hit-man, but the rest of the film contains bad acting and horrible pacing.

Let's get the bad out of the way first. So where I expected some surprisingly great directing from Mr. Keaton, he proves to me that he should remain in front of the camera instead of behind it. Sorry, but I've seen many television shows that are filmed better then this film, and that's one of my main problems with it. Then we have dry performances from everyone across the board minus Michael Keaton and Kelly Macdonald.

The film's plot is simple: Keaton plays a suicidal hitman who forms an unlikely friendship with a woman who happened to see him attempt suicide. She doesn't know it's him. The woman (Macdonald) has left her husband to get away from an abusive marriage and start a new life. She then contacts the police about seeing the man on the roof, and the film forms an awkward triangle between Keaton, Macdonald, and the police officer whom is interested in dating Macdonald.

Keaton's performance as the troubled hit-man is excellent. In fact, for the first twenty-five minutes of the film he doesn't even utter a word. It's through his facial expressions that we understand this is a man that wants to leave behind his line of work and start a new life, but he doesn't know how to.

The problem is that Keaton's excellent performance is trapped in a not excellent film. In a year where many actors have turned to playing in front of and behind the camera, Michael Keaton's turn winds up at the bottom of the list for me. Unless your a huge Michael Keaton fan, like myself, you might as well spend your time elsewhere.