Director: Paolo Sorrentino
Talent: Sean Penn, Frances McDormand, Kerry Condon
Release Date: March 23rd
I hate Sean Penn. In this despicable film he plays a disaffected rock star, a writer of depressive lyrics, living in a mansion in Dublin. Feeling bored, he goes on a journey of discovery to the States in search of the Nazi who tortured his deceased father. Penn affects a nasal drawl which grates on the ears – he’s in every scene, and drags the film down with him; the pretentious use of Arvo Part on the soundtrack does not help. There’s a heartening glimpse of the truly heroic Harry Dean Stanton towards the end, working wonders with the thankless role of Robert Plath, the man who invented the stroller bag. Otherwise, this appalling film has utterly nothing to recommend it. Did I mention that I hate Sean Penn?
Words: Sam Coll
