Ever wondered what happens when Hollywood decides to roll the dice on a thriller and misses the mark? Enter "Windfall," the 2022 film that opens the doors to the charming world of tone-deaf protagonists and privileged settings, where stealing becomes a leisurely pursuit rather than a high-stakes game. Directed by Charlie McDowell, this film, shot in the sunny vacuousness of a remote mansion, showcases modern filmmaking through a lens that’s attempting profundity but reaching cliché.
"Windfall" is centered around a wealthy CEO, played by Jesse Plemons, his wife, portrayed by Lily Collins, and an intruder brought to life by Jason Segel. Now, who thought a break-in at a tech billionaire's lavish vacation home would be the most nonchalant hostage situation ever? If the intention was tension, it seems to have drifted off into the palm tree horizons of their picturesque backdrop.
Firstly, the film leans heavily into characters that seem like a Twitter thread about privilege came to life. Instead of a gritty plunge into moral dilemmas and ethical predicaments, we are presented with caricatures that could have slipped out of the storyboard of a progressive's dream sequence. The CEO is not just rich; he’s tech-world detached, a quasi-villain whose dialogue reads like corporate seminar scribbles.
As for the narrative structure, "Windfall" is an exercise in slow-burn storytelling that rapidly fizzles out. And slow? It’s slower than a government bailout. What should have been moments filled with psychological tension and stomach-knotting stakes resemble a lazy paddle down a very shallow stream. You half expect the intruder to spill his cold brew coffee instead of aiming a gun.
The film proudly works in its showcase of wealth disparity, but instead of building a new discourse, it falls back on tired tropes. The power dynamics are as forced as a pre-election campaign promise. The drama between the CEO and the intruder holds as much intensity as a mildly conflicting text exchange. You think you’re buckling up for a one-percenter thriller, but you find yourself lukewarm, sipping whatever concoction Hollywood's latest attempt of class struggle brewed up.
Then, there’s the relationship angle between Plemons and Collins. It feels more like an HR-dodging office romance than an ongoing hostage crisis. Their chemistry is as strained as taxes during inflation, lacking the spark that should drive the film’s emotional arc. A potential exploration of marital dynamics during moments of existential crisis is reduced to tepid banter.
Now, speaking of disenchantment, let’s talk about Jason Segel’s character, the intruder. Take that supposed ‘everyman’ appeal and strip it of its sincerity. This character is more lukewarm protestor than menacing burglar, navigating the plot without a clear purpose. The screenplay gives us abstraction rather than motivation, blurring whatever thin line divides hero and villain, to begin with.
The cinematography offers vistas as stunning as they are narratively vacant. The sun-drenched setting occasionally distracts from the otherwise drab progression. It’s a pretty picture with little to back it up, like a political campaign ad with no policies attached. The visual depiction of privilege is vivid, though the script underwhelms in making it a story worth telling or even watching.
And let’s not forget the ending, designed to be a gut punch but landing more like a social media clapback that misses its target. Wrapped up in Hollywood’s message-driven ambitions, the crescendo arrives at a note that’s more beat than symphony, failing to shake viewers out of their streaming-induced stupor.
For those looking to engage with a cleverly crafted thriller that treads the fine line between seduction and discourse, "Windfall" is not it. The movie is a reminder that sometimes the industry bubble shields filmmakers from genuine stakes and authentic characters. As volatile as stock markets and far less thrilling, "Windfall" spends more time ideating power dynamics than delivering on its premise. Watching this film won’t change the world, but it might make you wonder about the payment structures behind greenlighting these so-called thrillers.