Title: The Humbling
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Barry Levinson
Starring: Al Pacino, Kyra Sedgwick, Greta Gerwig
Runtime: 1 hr 52 mins

What It Is: Simon Axler (Pacino) is an aging stage actor who may or may not be losing his mind…absolutely. He meets a sexually confused woman (Gerwig) who identifies as a lesbian but who ends up in a relationship with Simon. Simon also has to deal with trying to turn William Shakespeare’s King Lear into a comedy, and yes this feat is completely as difficult as it seems. Will Simon lose his mind, and in what direction will his Shakespeare adapt or his mind go?

What We Think: This is just a boring film, one that bumbles through a concept we’ve already seen done with more conciseness. Gerwig and Pacino lack real chemistry which is among the films smaller issues. It wants so badly for its allegory to get you and instead of getting the satire to bite it comes up toothless. Pacinois great here, but there’s something missing elsewheres. The normally solid Gerwig seems completely lost, and Levinson doesn’t seem to be helping. One thing I enjoyed was the level Pacino was at here, he was not his normal bombastic self but instead stayed reserved, and that worked. I haven’t liked a Levinson film since around 2001, however for some strange reason he is a director I give the benefit of the doubt, but no not this time! You no longer get a pass Barry Levinson. Your a talented director fix this!

Our Grade: C-, Man this could have been something special what with Pacino doing some good work and Gerwig trying, but sadly it’s saddled in mediocrity thanks in large part to Levinson’s directionless direction. Is he uninspired or does he not care anymore? Either way I hope his next film is less apathetic in it’s effort. I suppose we’ll see. Check this out if your a hardcore Pacino fan, or are interested in what Barry Levinson is doing now.

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