Vengeance

Vengeance

Ben Manalowitz, a journalist and podcaster, travels from New York City to West Texas to investigate the death of a girl he was hooking up with.

  • Released:
  • Runtime: 120 minutes
  • Genre: Comedy, Drama, Thrillers
  • Stars: B. J. Novak, Issa Rae, Ashton Kutcher, Boyd Holbrook, Dove Cameron, Isabella Amara, J. Smith-Cameron, Lio Tipton
  • Director: B. J. Novak
 Comments
  • bigjoshlucas - 9 January 2023
    Surprised!!
    We all know when we like a movie. Sometimes we don't know why a particular film resonates, sparks an emotion, or has one rooting for one of the characters.

    Preconceived ideas and expectations of this movie, it's writer/director, and a subplot filled with arrogant judgement were completely shattered. Along with all of his callaborators, B. J. Novak created a movie that is funny, enthralling, surprising, and beautiful.

    Expecting the usual "oil is bad" preaching along with a dabbling of "gun control is great" set me up for a lesson in open mindedness and censoring my expectations. I say thank you for a fresh, surprising film.
  • zhartman - 30 November 2022
    About as perfect as perfect can be!
    I'm a sucker for black comedies when they are well done, but sadly, most of thme are not imo. But this one had me all in within the first 10 minutes. The clash between Novak's VERY "New York" attitude and the people of West Texas he encounters was absolutely hilarious and pitch perfect (some from Texas might find some of it a little stereotypical and/or condescending, but I'm a Texan and can testify that people like those in this film very much DO exist).

    But it's not all dark/satirical comedy based on regional and cultural differences. In the 2nd act, the movie evolves into something more... a movie with something to say, and it's worth hearing, although it doesn't fully lose the humor and it definitely did not lose my interest. But the seriousness in tone definitely increases and it becomes more of a drama.

    And the topper, the ending.... it's where all too many movies fail, but Novak sticks the landing with a final scene that is both completely unpredictable and yet also absolutely perfect.

    I came for the laughs but found so much more. Definitely the best movie I have seen in quite some time. I will definitely be watching for his next film.