source: The Key Man

Moviecut—The Key Man

I saw this movie off Netflix yesterday, and despite a decent cast and good setup, the payoff didn't quite live up to it's first act. This movie concerns an insurance salesman (Jack Davenport, who I recall from a short-lived TV series on so many years ago called "Swing Town") who gets mixed up with two gangsters (Hugo Weaving & Brian Cox) in an effort to make more money and provide for his family, but things don't go as he planned. They set the film in 1975, which I don't think was exactly specified in the beginning, so I'm thinking to myself WTF??- land line phones, and look at those out of date clothes and '70s motifs?? LOL Well, anyway, THAT part of the film worked. I wish they would've used a good '70s soundtrack of tunes, but I'm guessing the budget on this thriller was too low for the rights to any songs-?? Carol Kane and Judy Greer round out the cast.

The film takes place in 1975 New England. Note the era whack-a-da sound track when they are running. Bobby (Jack Davenport) sells insurance policies and is at the bottom of his game. He is introduced to Vincent (Hugo Weaving) a man of means and culture. Vincent entices Bobby with the desire to buy an illegal policy, i.e. a Key Man policy where the Key Man refuses to be part of the deal. The jazz sound track made the film seem better than what it was. The drama was a bunch of talking and hand shaking and then at the end, the film changes gears rather inanely. His wife (Judy Greer) was never developed. He explains the whole thing to her in one line, "I did something stupid" because apparently he didn't think she could understand what he did. Bobby was a spineless individual who was our new criminal protagonist pitted against an old criminal antagonist. Just not exciting for me. The film didn't go anywhere for 2/3 of the film. Guide: F-bomb. No sex or nudity.

I'm not sure whether this movie is intentionally bad. It surely felt like it at times. I first gave this movie 3 stars, but I was far too entertained to keep it that way. My personal highlight was the transition of the movie where a picture of a fish was duplicated a lot, it was very weird. Another highlight was the scene at the end with the cars, which felt like a fever dream, but to be honest this whole movie sort of felt like one. But in general, this movie failed on every single level. I usually don't notice bad music or cinematography or acting, but in this movie it's was too much to not notice. Made me laugh nonetheless. In conclusion, if you want to watch an obscure movie that you just want to laugh at, this one is perfect. I'd recommend watching it with a friend also.

The Key Man