Hancock

Year: 2008

Grade: C-

Country: USA

Director: Berg

Review

an interesting film in that it could be read as a parable for modern america – reluctant hero who inflicts a lot of collateral damage and needs a good pr person. the twist isn’t difficult to predict, though it does make the point of the film (if there is one) even more muddled. not really sure if the film has a point or just seems like it might. some of the better pieces of work are the ones that skirt an issue and then some ambitious critic comes along and makes a mountain out of a molehill, thereby making a simple film into an epic story about the struggle between two conflicting ideas in a time of social unrest. don’t think anyone will do that with this one, but it does lend itself to some interpretation (in part because of the protagonist’s name: john hancock). other than the rough plot, the film is basically an uninteresting video game. expect more from peter berg.

Watched in theater