Water mess…
★☆☆☆☆ OUT 7 JUNE PRIME VIDEO
There are two big questions at the centre of this terminally kooky noir, which debuted to a shocking reception at 2023’s Toronto International Film Festival. The first: how has Chris Pine’s directorial debutwhich he also stars in, as well as co-writing and producingended up such a spectacular folly? The second: how did he rope in such a great cast?
Pine plays ‘poolman’ Darren Barrenman (or DB), whose main focus is cleaning the pool in the trailer park where he lives. He also receives Jungian therapy from neighbour Dianne (Annette Bening); the latter and her husband Jack (Danny DeVito) are basically DB’s substitute parents. When DB gets a tip-off about a conspiracy that affects his beloved LA, he turns amateur sleuth and sets off on a painfully unengaging mission. Poolman doesn’t work on any level. The tone is all over the place, jokes fall flat and the central mystery is barely coherent. It doesn’t help that the film repeatedly namechecks Chinatown, or that Pine also seems to be trying to harness some of The Big Lebowski’s energy. Given that inspiration, the least you can say for the film is that it’s clearly targeting a surreal, stoner vibe. But even cutting it that slack, there’s barely anything here to recommend. So if the harsh reviews tempt you to masochistically seek out Poolman for a laugh/endurance test, forget it: this is absolutely not Chinatown.
THE VERDICT Chris Pine’s directorial debut is a copper-bottomed misfire. Do yourself (and everyone involved) a favour by rewatching The Big Lebowski instead.
A FAMILY AFFAIR 15
★★☆☆☆ OUT NOW DIGITAL
As the bank threatens foreclosure on the spiritual retreat owned by Edward (Joe Wilkinson) and Helen (Laura Aikman), their parents arrive for a getaway, and various potential buyers descend to purchase the country manor in an auction. Complications and romantic entanglements naturally ensue – no gong bath can cleanse the rampant lust and greed on display – and farcical scenarios arise, like Edward’s father popping Viagra to bed his gold-digging caregiver. One-part Renoir’s The Rules of the Game, two-parts John Cleese/Rowan Atkinson-style Brit-com, and almost entirely flat.
GASOLINE RAINBOW TBC
★★★★☆ OUT 31 MAY MUBI
Written, directed, lensed and edited by sibling filmmakers Bill and Turner Ross (2020’s Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets), this road-trip mov
