A tranquil courtyard and stripped-down tense music. Serene, beautiful California landscape complete with orchards and a swimming pool. Seven minutes of silence as a man cruises around the property, gains entry inside the house, helps himself to a glass of OJ, pees in the shower, and riffles through drawers for valuables. The wealthy homeowners unexpectedly arrive at their home away from home. They surprise him as he’s making his getaway with cash and a Rolex.
This is the stage for Windfall, a minimalist thriller directed by Charlie McDowell (The One I Love) and starring Jesse Plemons (The Power of the Dog), Lily Collins (Emily in Paris), and Jason Segel (Forgetting Sarah Marshall). “Stage” being an operative word, since this three-person hostage drama could have been a play. It’s a slow-paced story driven by three nameless characters: Plemons as the wealthy CEO, Collins as the trophy wife, and Segel as the crook (credited as Nobody). Nobody is a disgruntled former employee and clearly not a career criminal. The CEO goes along with his demands, but as time goes on and it becomes increasingly likely that Nobody means no harm, he starts pushing back and treating it like a game. They discuss how much money it would take for Nobody to disappear and start a new life. Nobody says $150,000. The CEO says, “you really think that’s enough?” The Wife regrets giving up her previous life for running the CEO’s foundation. Marriage troubles spill out into the living room. The gardener shows up saddling Nobody with three hostages and more complications.
Do we care about what these people have to offer? Not so much. Maybe that’s the point. Heck, the characters aren’t even given names. They all play the victim – “why is everyone out to get me?” The dialog doesn’t crackle but the actors’ mannerisms and expressions make the silence palpable. The cinemaphotography is exquisite with the idyllic backdrop (Ojai, CA) juxtaposed against the standoff inside the house. The music is a delightful throwback to the Golden Age. But the sights, sounds, and taut running time (90 min) can’t save this movie. The potential for violence was always lurking beneath the vacation home solitude. It explodes in the end and the movie’s tone is turned upside down. It’s a mess but someone may have found some sort of redemption.
D² Rating ◼◼☐☐☐
Trivia: Director of Windfall, Charlie McDowell, is married to what British-American actress?
Answer: Lily Collins, co-star of Windfall. (He’s also the son of Malcolm McDowell and then-wife Mary Steenburgen)