Review for Manglehorn

Manglehorn is a drama that will have Al Pacino fans both delighted and confused. It is being hailed as his best performance in years (which I would argue was his turn in Danny Collins), but I suppose if you're comparing it to his Razzie winning turn in Jack and Jill then yes this is fabulous. That's not saying much though. This is a film that is either a masterclass in acting or a pointless art house indie film that achieves nothing.

Manglehorn is (according to the promotional blurb) an ex-con locksmith, not that there's anything in the film that would suggest this past. He is a bitter, lonely man who spends his time opening doors and making keys followed by trips to the bank where he has a relationship building with Dawn who works there. This leads to an awful date in which he talked more about his love of a mystery woman called 'Clara'.

He also has a strained relationship with his son Jacob, though this is never really explored. What follows is 97 minutes of a very understated performance by Al Pacino in a film that literally has no consequence or indeed any purpose.

To say I was thoroughly disappointed with this film would be an understatement. I watched this film, excited by the thought of Pacino being back on form and really compared to his earlier work this was an awful experience. One performance does not make a great film and even Pacino's performance can't be described as 'great'. Yes it's a move away from the bombastic over the top performances he's done recently, but it's certainly not something that he would be nominated for.

The rest of the supporting cast have very little to work with and even Holly Hunter as Dawn just looks lost within this film. Chris Messina as his son Jacob only appears twice and it's almost like a masterclass in overacting. I'm not sure who to blame. Is it Writer Paul Logan, who has not done anything of note before this, or Director David Gordon Green who is mainly known for screwball comedies like Your Highness and Pineapple Express?

The problem I had is simply that nothing happens. Nothing. Manglehorn talks about the mystery girl Clara, but there is no resolution, his son comes to him with his problems and there is no resolution, he has an awful date with Dawn and again nothing happens. By the end of the film I'm not sure what I watched or indeed what happens. The fact the promo-blurb describes Manglehorn as an 'ex-con' makes me feel like there is a better film that is on the editing floor somewhere. Sadly, it's not the film I watched.

Extras include a Trailer and an interview with Al Pacino and Holly Hunter which is too short to mean much and just when it seems to get started it end. Pacino comments that the film was originally created as a children's story and then it ends before we could hear what that was supposed to be. Which is probably exactly how the movie feels. It starts, very little happens, a major plot points jumps into the film and then it ends with no real resolution.

Manglehorn is not a film I would recommend to anyone. Even those who love Al Pacino (like me) will be bored senseless by this film that has no entertainment value whatsoever. If you want to watch an understated performance surrounded by a pointless film then this is the film for you. However, if you want a hugely enjoyable experience then this is not the film to watch.