My second review in a row of a Coen-Brothers-like film. But Suburbicon actually IS a Coen Brothers film (directed by George Clooney, who also co-wrote). Despite seeing numerous trailers (i.e. trying NOT to see them) and skimming a few reviews, I somehow managed to avoid knowing anything about this film. Even the fact that this is a very dark thriller (with some Coen-Brothers-like dark comedy thrown in) escaped my notice. Unfortunately, I can’t say the resulting surprise was entirely a pleasant one. The good news, though, is that my expectations were very low, thanks to the knowledge I did have: namely that Suburbicon is being panned by critics and viewers alike (an F score average from filmgoers over 50). I went anyway, because of Clooney, Damon and the Coen Brothers. And I’m glad I did (i.e. no F from me).
Matt Damon and Julianne Moore are the big stars of Suburbicon (sort of), with a major cameo (and a delicious one) by Oscar Isaac. But the real star is the young Noah Jupe as Nicky, a boy of about ten, living in the idyllic community of Suburbicon, who finds his world turned upside down when a black family moves in next door (okay, that’s a completely misleading statement, but it’s in keeping with what the townsfolk think about the presence of a black family in their all-white city of 60,000).
Nicky’s parents are Rose (Moore) and Gardner (Damon). Rose’s twin sister, Maggie, spends a lot of time at their house as well. One night (shortly after the arrival of the Mayers family next door), Nicky wakes up to find that two men have entered their home and are about to do something awful, though it will be only the beginning of the horrors Nicky will face in the days ahead. And that’s enough plot from me.
Suburbicon is not, by any stretch, one of the Coen Brothers best films (or one of Clooney’s best films). A lot has been said by critics about the film’s inaccurate heavy-handedness when it comes to racial satire and about its left-leaning cast and writers. I don’t think those complaints are fair to what the film is trying to do, unless the film is truly meant to be a satire of late 1950’s small-town USA life instead of a dark thriller. I viewed it as the latter, a thriller that incorporates social satire on the side. My disappointments have more to do with the lack of character development and an overall plot that just doesn’t have a lot to offer. And then there’s the dark comedy, which really doesn’t work at all.
Nevertheless, the bottom line is that I quite enjoyed watching Suburbicon, so I can’t help but wonder why so many found it awful. The acting of those mentioned above was mostly excellent. The atmosphere was carefully developed (with lots of radio and TV) and it felt right. The cinematography wasn’t remarkable but it was okay. Same with the score. Flawed as it is, Suburbicon was fun, in a twisted sort of way, so I’m giving it a solid ***. My mug is up.
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