spinning man
Director: Simon Kaijser (stockholm east)
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Starring: guy pearce, pierce brosnan, minnie driver, and odeya rush
REVIEWER: lyall carter
★★
Evan Birch is a family man and esteemed professor at a distinguished university, where his charm and reputation have made his philosophy class very popular. When a female student named Joyce goes missing, Evan's previous off-campus dalliances make his wife question his alibi. Gruff police Detective Malloy has even more reason to be suspicious when crucial evidence makes Evan the prime suspect in her disappearance.
When you discover that a film has both Guy Pearce and Pierce Brosnan in it you sit up and pay attention. Alright, this is gonna be good! Unfortunately with Spinning Man - not so much.
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Evan, a beloved philosophy college professor, is the prime suspect when a young female student goes missing. Because of a previous affair with a student at another university which made him leave in disgrace, his wife is also suspicious. Detective Malloy begins heavily pursuing Evan who begins a downward spiral into paranoia.
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Now theres nothing wrong with the performances, the cinematography, or location. Spinning Man's issues all come down to the execution of the plotting and the tone of the film. The story reads like a detective thriller kinda film but is delivered at such a pedestrian pace that it feels like they wish it was a drama?
All I know is that it just didn't work and when the big twist reveal happens at the end because of the inconsistent pacing of the film it is too big of a leap, it makes no sense, and you really don't care. Actors of the calibre of Pearce, Brosnan, and Driver deserved way better.
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A film that doesn't know what it wants to be leads to a pedestrian film that you don't really care that much about.
★★
Spinning Man is available on DVD, Blu-ray, and digital from all good disc and digital retailers.
