Directed by: Jared Hess
Written by: Jared Hess, Jerusha Hess
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Amy Ryan, Jemaine Clement
I love Sam Rockwell, he's one of my favourite actors working today. Unfortunately, I don't often find him in a movie that's as entertaining as he is.
*Warning: Potential Spoilers Ahead*
Don Verdean (Rockwell) is as self-professing biblical archaeologist. Church leader Tony Lazarus (Danny McBride) offers to fund Don in exchange for giving his finds back to the church in order to give the church more publicity.
Half the time I'm not sure if the movie is trying to be funny or not. This comes from the makers of Napoleon Dynamite, so that may indeed be the intention, but it doesn't make the film more enjoyable. There's a definite air of satire in the film's attitude towards McBride's Lazarus; he hires Verdean because he's losing followers to a church started by former satanist Pastor Fontain (Will Forte). The exaggerated ways in which Fontain and Lazarus try to outdo each other in order to gain followers are pretty entertaining, poking general fun at christian sensibilities without being hateful.
Rockwell is not as good as his usual self, but it's partly because his character seems to be written as unlikable. There seems to be a real possible conflict to work with within his character, but the movie never pursues it far, which can be said for most of the film's ideas. The real highlight goes to Clement as Israeli Boaz; he creates most of the movie's laughs, and is easily the most consistently entertaining aspect of the film.
The Verdict: Uneven in tone and lacking a little in focus, Don Verdean is disappointing despite the stellar cast. It may be worth a watch if you like a few satirical bites at disingenuous religious attitudes, but even then it's eccentric rather than vicious.
Rating: 4.5/10
Published July 18th, 2016
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