Monday, February 24, 2020

The Assistant (2020)

This film was incredibly simple, detailing the course of a day for the young assistant of a big unnamed asshole of a producer. Whether he produces films, TV shows or Broadway isn't outlined, but that isn't important.
Julia Garner shines as the main character with the worst pair of pants I've ever seen but a great work ethic, getting in early and staying late, with no time to grab a solid meal. Her co-workers can be helpful, but they are picky when it comes to an incorrect lunch order and have inside jokes. As Garner is new in this job, she slowly starts to learn that her boss is a giant asshole (that is the appropriate word). But when she reports him to HR, she doesn't present the needles she finds in his trash can and deposes of properly but rather that he blows off meetings to have sex with a random waitress he just met and it is a known fact that he's had sex in the office multiple times. She's smart, but also naive. She should have gathered evidence to bring him down because now that she knows the truth, and if she gathers actual evidence, no one will believe her. So yeah, while the HR director at least has a work ethic, he's another form of asshole nevertheless.
While the film is overwhelmingly simple, thanks to the genuine feel and great camera angles, it works and is worth watching. Grade: B+
Side Notes:
-None of the characters get names, which for the most part, seems authentic.
-There's not much difference between chicken and turkey.
-Does Julia grab her cell phone at the diner at the end of the film?
-Astoria is in Queens, for the record.
-The credit cards being frozen did need more exploration.

No comments:

Post a Comment