Ambition Overpowers Delivery

Read Time:3 Minute, 37 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Rent-A-Man
–

Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Year Released: 2023
Runtime: 1h 33m
Director(s): Rafal Zlak
Writer(s): Rafal Zlak
Cast: Jomri D., Jakub Baranski, Rafal Zlak
Where To Watch: available to stream on Tubi here www.tubitv.com

RAVING REVIEW: Entering the world of RENT-A-MAN felt like embarking on a journey through the endless pits and valleys of the Nevada desert. The film promised an intriguing blend of Las Vegas' dynamism and Valley of Fire State Park's ethereal beauty. Theoretically, it aimed to reflect the internal complexities of its main characters, Jackie (Jomri D.,) a multifaceted criminal, and Dillon (Jakub Baranski) from the titular Rent-A-Man service. Unfortunately, their desert odyssey, intended as a metaphor for human connection amidst technological change, misses its mark repeatedly.

Director Rafal Zlak, drawing from his experiences in communist Warsaw, attempts a fusion of noir and sci-fi. His ambition was to explore the depths of human imagination mixed with a narrative of advanced brain chip technology. However, the execution left much to be desired regarding coherence and engagement. One of my biggest knocks on any film, Blockbuster or a minor indie picture, is when trying to be “artsy just for the sake of being artsy.” The second would be when a film reaches beyond its means from a technical standpoint. Unfortunately, this film committed both of those cardinal sins.

As Jackie and Dillon struggle to bring the necessary depth to their roles, Jormi D. and Jakub Baranski show their struggle to rise above the script that was trying to be more than it was. Their performances, set against the stark Nevada desert, fail to captivate, with forced symbolism and a lack of genuine chemistry. The script's reliance on heavy, often pretentious dialogue further alienates rather than engages the audience.

The film's avant-garde approach, with its erratic camera work and jarring editing, appears more disorienting than artistic. Straying far from conventional narrative styles, RENT-A-MAN demands patience and a high level of engagement from its viewers – a request seems unearned given the film's overall lack of clarity and direction. Moreover, while visually appealing, the mesmerizing desert landscapes often distract from the underdeveloped story, leaving viewers longing for a more cohesive narrative. On that point, some of the cinematography in the film is stunning, and some overhead shots are so jarringly different that they may be stock footage.

Despite its challenges, RENT-A-MAN is a bold attempt, albeit unsuccessful, in cinema. Zlak's venture into complex and provocative themes is noteworthy but needed some grounding to translate into a compelling viewing experience. The film's attempt to navigate the intersection of technology and human essence within a thriller setting results in a disjointed and unfulfilling story.

In conclusion, while an attempt at a thought-provoking experience, RENT-A-MAN falls short in execution. Though ambitious, its combination of science, philosophy, and character study fails to provide a cohesive and engaging story. While some may appreciate its deviation from conventional filmmaking, the movie struggles to deliver a satisfying cinematic journey. It's a film that ambitiously reaches for the stars but ends up lost in its desert, leaving viewers more bewildered than enlightened.

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[photo courtesy of FILMHUB]

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