Vengeance

Ben Manalowitz, a journalist and podcaster, travels from New York City to West Texas to investigate the death of a girl he was hooking up with.

  • Released:
  • Runtime: 120 minutes
  • Genre: Comedy, Drama, Thrillers
  • Stars: B. J. Novak, Issa Rae, Ashton Kutcher, Boyd Holbrook, Dove Cameron, Isabella Amara, J. Smith-Cameron, Lio Tipton
  • Director: B. J. Novak
 Comments
  • Taco_Sanchez - 17 January 2024
    Wow! What a great movie and social commentary
    BJ Novak has hit a home run with with film that he directs and also stars in.

    Novak plays Ben, who at one point he self-describes as a self-absorbed know it all. He is part of the New York "hook up culture".

    One night he gets a call from Ty Shaw in Texas whose sister, Abilene, has died under suspicious circumstances. The Shaw family seem to believe that Ben was Abilene's boyfriend despite the fact they had only hooked up a few times. Ben travels to the funeral, after which Ty asks him to help him get vengeance against her killer.

    Ben condescending looks down on the Shaw family, but decides to stay to produce a pod cast under the guise of investigating Abilene's death.

    Along the way, he meets people who live their life in a much different way from what he is accustomed too. He learns more about Abilene and her family - the aforementioned Ty, sisters Kansas City and Paris, brother "el stupido", her mother and grandmother. He learns about Whataburger, the politics of Texas law enforcement, the rodeo, that "bless your heart" is a euphemism for f-you and drug dealers secretly like Harry Potter. He also comes across a Yale-educated transplant, music producer and philosopher played by Ashton Kutcher who, for all his intellect and fancy talk, lacks character.

    Early in the movie, Ben talks about wanting to discover America...but as the movie progresses, he finds he discovers himself, and more importantly his character.

    The movie obviously does a lot to contrast the different morays that shape life on the urban east coast vs more rural parts of America. While it's not overtly political, it certainly tries to dig into the deeper root causes the have created a divide between "red and blue", including the often condescending attitude that so-called "elites" have. Course, it also balances that out by calling out those who seemingly covet conspiracy theories as a coping mechanism.

    In the end, despite a brief falling out with the Shaw family - including finding out that Abilene did in fact have a drug problem - Ben does follow through by getting Vengeance. He also decides to delete his podcast and just keep the story between them.

    This was a great movie. Funny in parts, relatable and will a compelling story that kept me glued.
  • dbriz-24605 - 13 July 2023
    Some decent moments but...
    Novak makes a brave attempt to engage current social/political divergences in this attempt to present both sides of the blue/red divisions in the country. Brave because the subject itself defies simple explanation and is all too easily characterized as dumb vs bright.

    Novak falls into this trap. The actors are competent and well cast but each plays a one note caricature of either the snobbish east coast lefty or right wing no nothing.

    The plot is not a bad idea though it spends too much time preaching and too little developing the mystery angle. Novak is on screen too much, others too little.

    Worth a watch for the good moments but be ready to wish they'd move along. 90-95 minutes rather than 107 would have been enough.
  • predragdilic - 2 June 2023
    A gripping and thought-provoking thriller that delves deep into the complexities of human nature
    Vengeance, directed by B. J. Novak, is a gripping and thought-provoking thriller that delves deep into the complexities of human nature and the consequences of seeking revenge. Novak, known for his talent as a writer and actor, showcases his skills behind the camera, delivering a film that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.

    The movie follows the story of Ethan Miller (played by a compelling and intense lead actor, Boyd Holbrook), a man consumed by grief and anger after his wife's brutal murder. Filled with a desire for vengeance, he embarks on a dangerous journey to track down the killer, entangling himself in a web of secrets, betrayal, and moral ambiguity. Holbrook's performance is mesmerizing, capturing the character's pain and determination with raw authenticity. This role may very well be his best to date, showcasing his versatility as an actor.

    Another standout performance comes from Ashton Kutcher, who delivers what can be considered the best role of his career. Kutcher's portrayal of a complex and morally ambiguous character adds an intriguing layer to the story. His nuanced performance brings depth and unpredictability to the narrative, leaving a lasting impression on the audience.

    At the beginning of the film, Novak's character finds himself in the midst of what it means to be a writer but forgets what it is to be a man. This exploration of identity and purpose adds an introspective element to the story, as Novak's character grapples with his own journey of self-discovery. Through the course of the film, Novak's direction skillfully showcases the transformation of his character, highlighting the importance of personal growth and reconnecting with one's humanity.

    Vengeance succeeds in weaving together a compelling narrative with engaging themes. Novak's direction is confident, effectively utilizing atmospheric settings and expert cinematography to heighten the suspenseful moments. The film's pacing is commendable, maintaining a consistent tension throughout.

    While the main characters receive well-deserved attention, some secondary characters could have been given more depth to fully engage the audience. However, this minor flaw is overshadowed by the film's overall strengths.

    The haunting score in Vengeance elevates the tension and adds an extra layer of emotional depth to the narrative. The cinematography is skillfully executed, capturing both the beauty and darkness of the film's settings, immersing the viewers in the atmosphere of the story.

    In conclusion, Vengeance is a compelling and thought-provoking thriller that showcases B. J. Novak's talents as a director. With Boyd Holbrook presenting his best and Ashton Kutcher delivering what can be considered the best role of his career, the performances elevate the film to another level. Novak successfully explores the themes of revenge, morality, and the journey of self-discovery. Despite minor character development shortcomings, the film's strong performances, tight pacing, and profound themes make it a worthy addition to the genre. Novak's directorial debut establishes him as a promising filmmaker, and audiences can anticipate more compelling stories in the future.
  • dnutsch - 4 December 2022
    A poorly made attempt at a modern western
    I give the writing a C because it has sort of this high school drama club writer feel. Sorry I did not like this and the script is everything I thought it would be based on what I saw from the US office episodes. BJ should not have cast himself, he looks very old and it stutters the mind he sees himself as some sort of NY pickup artist. I only give BJ credit with taking an interest in some far away place he knows nothing about and to try to make a few endearing jokes about that place. However hanging around petroleum equipment will IRL give you H2S poisoning. There are plenty of southern non-Texas tropes like fat rednecks, gun stuff, etc. In real life narcos don't hang out at the honkey tonk like jay-z up at the club, people don't hang their guns in the truck window. People like Ashton Kutcher's character would live in some meme location like Jackson, Wyoming, or somewhere in Montana, not in Marfa. If only they gave some west Texas writer/producer the budget to make a film about pretentious New Yorkers writers. No Country For Old Men won the oscar even though it also got west Texas wrong and was filmed in New Mexico. It did so because it had long scenes with no dialog where the atmosphere of the place was shown not explained through tons of tropes and poorly written lines. If you want to make a western, make a western, not "look, a pondering New Yorker at whataburger."
  • dmgrant-46030 - 8 November 2022
    This movie is SO bad...
    This movie is so up itself, so condescending in it's "on the nose" messaging to it's polarized audience, that it falls off the nose and onto the floor. It is the most embarrassing, truly awful, tacky piece of gibberish to have been produced in the last decade and the next. It is the epitome of bad film, representing a fantasy of diplomacy in plastic wrap. I implore you. Do not watch this film. There are plenty of other things you could do with the time you do not waste on this drivel. You could watch, The Room. You could watch, Ishtar. You could watch any number of other films that would be far more entertaining that do not treat you like a child.
  • hosackl-1 - 24 October 2022
    Leftist propaganda
    So this movie is just an opportunity for the left to once again bash on the right. It is clear to me now more than ever before that the left just doesn't understand the conservative right. All this BS about people (mostly in rural areas and therefore mostly conservative) who are sad and mad and therefore tending towards making up conspiracy theories, and how that is what is dividing us. Oh gee, if we on the right weren't so economically and psychologically depressed, we'd all be able to sing around a campfire together. They just don't get it. That are frustration has nothing to do with this, and that some people don't like seeing the literal decay of our society from loss of family nuclear structure and freedom/liberty and personal responsibility. That not all of us like paying 50% of our hard earned money to support people that are human pieces of lawn furniture. That not all of us like seeing this country change. Of course, at this point they will scream racism but race has nothing to do with this slow inexorable slide towards socialism. Not all of us want our country to become a socialist cesspool. And not all of us cling to guns so that we can commit acts of violence. The freedom to own a weapon is a symbol of our freedom and by god is does also offer protection from these cretins. I'm sick of this stuff coming from the left. This movie just pissed me off. And the movie itself? Slow, boring, stupid plot... just trash. And the high rating here? The leftist media and all the fancy left leaning critics eat this crap up. I'm telling you, if you are even centrist and have one brain cell firing up above, this movie should just irritate you.