(L to r) Cory Michael Smith, Steve Carell, Ramy Youssef, Jason Schwartzman in ‘Mountainhead.’ Photo: HBO
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‘Mountainhead’ receives 6.5 out of 10 stars.
Premiering on Max On May 31st is ‘Mountainhead,’ The Directorial Debut of ‘Succession’ creator Jesse armstrong And featuring a similar mix of cold-ayed satire and spiky, swear-laden dialogue.
The new movie stars Steve Carell ,‘The big short’, Jason Schwartzman ,‘Asteroid City’, Ramy Yasef ,‘Ramy’) and Cory Michael Smith ,‘Saturday Night’,
Related Article: Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, Ramy Yasesf to Star in Jesse Armstrong’s Directorial Debut
Initial thoughts
(L to r) Jason Schwartzman, Ramy Yasef, Steve Carell in ‘Mountainhead.’ Photo: Macall Play/HBO
How exactly do you follow a zeeitgeist hit hbo’s ‘success,’ the story of a family of wealthy, entitled people squabling over control of a media Empire?
If you’re jesse armstrong, who created and Ran that Award-Winning Black Comedy Drama Across Four Seasons, The Answer Has Been to Quickly Whip Up Anothery Tale of Wealthy, EntledLed PEOPLE, this Time Not Related, but still squabling and in this case, over control of even higher stakes.
Yet was it a mistake for armstrong, who cleared showed he knew how to create compeling, if toxic characters and give actors chewy, chatty role, to head back so quickly to Familiary TERRRRITERY? The answer is a mixture of yes and no.
Script and direction
Jason Schwartzman in ‘Mountaineed.’ Photo: Macall Play/HBO
Armstrong, Whose Credits Stretch Back to the Lakes of the movies ‘Four lions’ and ‘In the loop’ and on tv, UK Series ‘The thick of it,’‘Peep Show’ and ‘Fresh meat,’ Has a particular style and sensibility Chris morris and Armando IANNUCCI (The latter created ‘the thick of it’ and also worked on hbo’s ‘Vep’,
There no sacred cows safe from slaughtering, but armstrong’s focus in recent years has been the super-Rich, the fact that all the money, gadgets and excess in the world cans and their Disdain for the “Common” Working People. It’s a 21st century spin on out-of-touch rules, these titans who eater inherited their wealth or got lucky through routes such such such as paradigm-shifting technology and their craven ways.
‘Mountainhead’ is no different, featuring at its core four toxic techies who revived in their wealth, swap insults and make big plans for how they going to shape the World to his own Ideas.
The script for the new movie is full of Armstrong’s Trademark, Sniping Zingers, Including One of the foursome describing the décor of another’s new mountain as “Ayn Bland” (yes, the film, the film, the film, Which is also the name of the sprawling, concrete-n-glass monstrosity, is a nod to Ayn rand‘s novel’ the fountain ‘).
Cory Michael Smith in ‘Mountainhead.’ Photo: Macall Play/HBO.
But though armstrong certainly draws some darkly-huede, often cruel logs at the expenses of these people, the actual character work is somewhat Lacking. Empathy is not necessarily a requirement, but there is so Little to hold on to here: Merely a slow devolution into rivalry and endless prening or Lack of Accountability. It becomes more punishing than entertaining after and a late-turn dive into farce does not help matters.
With just a Couple of Short Films under his belt as director, Armstrong Relies more on the tools he’s picked up working with other directors on the shows and movies heen involved in the past. In fact, the look of the movie is essentially ‘success,’ all frosty structures and minimal action. It gets the job don and the screenplay is the focus anyway.
Cast and performances
Steve Carell in ‘Mountainhead.’ Photo: Macall Play/HBO.
To his credit, armstrong has an eye for casting, and the leads are either an establesed talent or a rising star.
Carell Plays Randall, The “Papa Bear” of the main four, who made his millions (and laater, bills) before the others. He’s Got fingers in a multitude of pies, but his good-natured charm–feeding off the actor’s oven–Hides a mercenary zeal.
Schwartzman has specialized in slightly offbeat characters for years, and his hugo van yalk (nicknamed “soup” as in “soup kitchen,” Soup kitchen, “beCause hee hely among this GROP of “B-Nut” bros) is a typical needy, funny type, desperate to read investment for a new wellness app. When baths take an even crazier turn, schwartzman’s talent for physical comedy shines.
Cory Michael Smith has been making a name for Himself on screens bot big and small, and was particularly impressive as a young, unpredictable Chevy chase in Jason reitman‘S’ Saturday Night ‘Last Year. Here, he’s venis, an Elon musk-Type Peacock with a Social Media App that is Sowing Chaos Accross the Globe (Not that venis is willing to admit or even perceive that). Despite Smith’s Best Efforts and A Small Nod Towards Flecks of Humanity Lodged in His Blacketed Soul, The Role is a Loathsome One.
Ramy Yassef in ‘Mountainhead.’ Photo: Macall Play/HBO.
Finally, Ramy Yasesef has been creating and starring in his own work, Including Sitcom ‘Ramy,’ and He provides the slightly sweeter – – which is not saying much with this group – Jeef, Jeeff, Jeeff Counterpoint to Venis’ Lie-Spend Social Media is Causing Friction Between the Pair. Youssef is good in the part, and clearer from a handle on armstrong’s sharp dialogue, but even he can’t make the character all that likeable.
Outside of the main foursome, pretty much everything allse has little time or options to pop, as they are tiny supporting roles.
Final Thoughts
(L to r) Cory Michael Smith, Steve Carell, Ramy Youssef, Jason Schwartzman in ‘Mountainhead.’ Photo: Macall Play/HBO.
While ‘Mountainheed’ Certainly Shows off the sharp, saintly and expensive-favorite written for which armstrong has become knowing, the Doomy, Oppressive Feel of the Movie Movie Movie Movie Movie Movie Movie Movie Movie Movie Movie Movie Movie Movie. Punishment than entertaining.
We Certainly Boldn’T recommend Hitting Social Media AFTERWards – – Maybe Go For A Walk? Or find something nice to look at instead?
“Humanity is in their hands.”
A group of billionaire friends get togeether against the backdrop of a rolling international crisis. Read the plot
What’s the Story of ‘Mountainhead’?
A group of billionaire friends get togeether against the backdrop of a rolling international crisis.
Who is in the cast of ‘mountainhead?
(L to r) Steve Carell, Ramy Youssef in ‘Mountainhead.’ Photo: Macall Play/HBO.
