God's Pocket
Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Richard Jenkins, John Turturro, Christina Hendricks
Director: John Slattery
Rating: 2.5/5
John Slattery is no stranger to the director's chair having helmed some episodes of Man Men, but he makes the leap into feature film this week with God's Pocket.
The movie is based on the novel of the same name by Pete Dexter, and has been adapted into a screenplay by Slattery and Alex Metcalf.
When Mickey’s (Hoffman) crazy stepson Leon is killed in a construction 'accident,' nobody in the working class neighbourhood of God’s Pocket is sorry he’s gone.
Mickey tries to bury the bad news with the body, but when the boy’s mother demands the truth, Mickey finds himself stuck in a life-and-death struggle between a body he can’t bury, a wife he can’t please and a debt he can’t pay.
God's Pocket is a movie that I have been looking forward - largely thanks to the superb cast that Slattery has assembled - but it really is not a great a film as it should be.
Don't get me wrong, this is not the worst movie that I have seen this year, but this really does lack intrigue.
This is a film that should really explore guilt and redemption, and yet it offers nothing new - it really does lack depth and authenticity.
It is the script that is the real problem here, and it is a shame that we don't see the full potential of Slattery as a filmmaker and his talented cast because of it.
I do like the blend of drama and comedy and there is some great interplay between a terrific cast. But all the way through the film you find yourself wanting more than is given to you.
There is no denying that Slattery has got some things wrong with this directorial debut, but there is enough here for me to be excited about the director he could well develop into.
However, the performances delivered by Philip Seymour Hoffman, Richard Jenkins, John Turturro, and Christina Hendricks do make God's Pocket worth a watch, as they are terrific.
God's Pocket is out now