Much criticism has been leveled against KTM; while true are not entirely accurate.
the script does have inconsistencies- holes as it were and the dialogue is typically screen writing 101 and if you didn't know Sue Webb left him, the film certainly would have her do so to drive plot points. The direction ineffective at best. Much is oversimplified with multiple character actors appearing in cameos to represent various viewpoints or to push the plot forward. It's as if the subject matter was too much for Cuesta to handle. While he's reverential toward Webb, he does the man a disservice by creating instances that never occurred. Scenes with his family life seemed contrived and uncomfortable for all involved. Loud groans were heard amongst the audience I saw it with- It appears the film will find its footing on Showtime/HBO/Cinemax.
At the beginning "this is based on true events" was the flag that said we made up stuff. However, the film does hit/cover all the salient points of Webb's life.
A few scenes echoed The Insider/Shattered Glass failing to resonate. I kept thinking how different this would have been in the hands of another director. Better dialogue would have sharpened intent/effect.
What Kill the Messenger strives to be is this millenia's The Insider and falls short. Renner in a few scenes shows us a man defeated by the very thing that made him so good at what he does. When he realizes he is alone without even those he loved to love him through it, Renner was heartbreaking. It is a commendable first effort by Renner's production company.
For myself, the film in the end is average with Renner's performance elevating Kill the Messenger to watchablity.
the script does have inconsistencies- holes as it were and the dialogue is typically screen writing 101 and if you didn't know Sue Webb left him, the film certainly would have her do so to drive plot points. The direction ineffective at best. Much is oversimplified with multiple character actors appearing in cameos to represent various viewpoints or to push the plot forward. It's as if the subject matter was too much for Cuesta to handle. While he's reverential toward Webb, he does the man a disservice by creating instances that never occurred. Scenes with his family life seemed contrived and uncomfortable for all involved. Loud groans were heard amongst the audience I saw it with- It appears the film will find its footing on Showtime/HBO/Cinemax.
At the beginning "this is based on true events" was the flag that said we made up stuff. However, the film does hit/cover all the salient points of Webb's life.
A few scenes echoed The Insider/Shattered Glass failing to resonate. I kept thinking how different this would have been in the hands of another director. Better dialogue would have sharpened intent/effect.
What Kill the Messenger strives to be is this millenia's The Insider and falls short. Renner in a few scenes shows us a man defeated by the very thing that made him so good at what he does. When he realizes he is alone without even those he loved to love him through it, Renner was heartbreaking. It is a commendable first effort by Renner's production company.
For myself, the film in the end is average with Renner's performance elevating Kill the Messenger to watchablity.