A Disappointing Debut from Nic Pizzolatto
Nic Pizzolatto’s feature directorial debut, Easy's Waltz, is a film that leaves many questioning the creative decisions behind it. From the writing to the direction and even the acting, nothing seems to work in harmony. It’s a movie that feels like a pressure-sealed disaster, where no one stepped in to prevent the chaos. As a viewer, you’re left trapped in a series of haphazard scenes that lack any clear vision or insight into the characters.
The film is an abstract watch, but it barely holds together on a basic narrative level. It’s almost as if it was made by a different person than the one who created the acclaimed series True Detective. The expectations for a classic Vegas romp are not met, and instead, the film feels like a derivative copy of countless other sin city-set movies. It even pales in comparison to last year’s The Last Showgirl, which felt more cohesive and engaging.
A Lack of Depth and Purpose
One of the most glaring issues with Easy's Waltz is the lack of care given to its characters. References are thrown together without much thought, and the result is a story that leaves you wondering who these people were and why you spent so much time with them. The dialogue is stiff and unnatural, often feeling like it was read straight from a script without any emotional weight.
Vince Vaughn’s performance as Easy, a struggling Vegas crooner, is accompanied by his singing, which rings hollow. The film insists that this is all great, but it’s hard to see how. The singing scenes are awkwardly staged, with no real life behind them. Even when there are moments of charm, they are quickly overshadowed by the rest of the film, which feels like a one-note song.
A Story That Fails to Engage
The plot follows Easy, who has fallen on hard times after losing his job managing a restaurant. He hits a drunken jerk who harassed his staff, leading to his dismissal. However, he soon gets a lucky break when a club needs someone to replace a comedian who bombed. Easy steps up and performs, catching the attention of Mickey Albano, played by Al Pacino, who offers him a job at the Wynn resort.
As Easy starts to make a name for himself, his troublemaker brother Sam arrives, threatening to disrupt everything. However, the film fails to deliver a compelling narrative. Subplots are introduced and dropped with little thought, creating a sense of whiplash. The film’s structure is disjointed, with time and location jumps that seem random and unhelpful.
A Hollow Experience
What could have been a unique and engaging story ends up being a frustrating experience. The film tries to be stylish, but the result is just exhausting. The dialogue is filled with clunky exposition, and the characters often telegraph their intentions too clearly. This makes the film feel predictable and unoriginal.
Even the ending, which attempts to provide some closure, falls flat. The film loses whatever potential it had to end on a high note, leaving viewers wishing they could go back to a better version of the story. Easy's Waltz feels like a bad cover of a song you’ve heard before, making it difficult to forget.
Overall, the film is a disappointing debut for Pizzolatto. It lacks the vision and coherence needed to make a lasting impression. While there are moments that hint at something more, they are ultimately overshadowed by the film’s many flaws. For those looking for a compelling and well-crafted story, Easy's Waltz is likely to leave them wanting more.
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