2023   Saban Films

Rated:  R

Length:  1 hr  40min

Comedy

Directed by:  Michael Maren

Starring:  Michael Shannon, Kate Hudson, Don Johnson, and Zach Braff.

“I only wonder if your little deception plays out as a comedy or a tragedy……… Is there any difference?”

Michael Shannon stars as Shriver, an alcoholic handyman living in an apartment building in New York City. One day he receives a letter from Acheron University in California, sent by an English Professor and organizer of the school’s annual Literary Festival Simone Cleary (Kate Hudson). She had sent numerous letters to different Shriver’s around the country trying to contact the writer C. R. Shriver. C. R. Shriver was infamous for writing a very popular novel titled The Goat twenty years ago and then disappearing without a trace. She has invited Shriver to attend their annual Literary Festival as the main guest, all expenses paid.

Shriver decides it is worth a free trip even if he must impersonate a writer and has never written anything in his life. As the movie progresses we see Shriver argue with his alter ego about his lie and deception. Shriver drinks a lot and becomes drinking buddies with another of the school’s faculty T. Wasserman (Don Johnson). As the deception continues and Shriver is threatened by exposure, the drama and comedy grow. The question you ask as the plot thickens is, Who is the real Shriver? Is it Michael Shannon? Or is he just a drunk imposter? The other writers at the literary quickly realize that their is something off about the man who says he is the writer Shriver.

Shriver in German means writer, a bit of tongue in cheek in the plot. The movie is based on the 2013 Novel by Chris Belden titled Shriver. It is a bit of a satirical look at writing and fame, and all the pompousness of being a “Writer”. I loved watching Michael Shannon in this, he kept me guessing as it played out. And it was definitely a different role for him. Don Johnson is ………typical Don Johnson, Kate Hudson was good as Simone Cleary. It was nice to see M. Emmett Walsh as Professor Arthur Baldwin and Peyton List was interesting as Sophie Firestone.

It starts out a little slow but I couldn’t look away wondering where it was all going. As it moves along it keeps you wondering who is the real writer Shriver. It is a comedy and a funny look at the world of writing. I liked it. I really liked Michael Shannon in this as well as the familiar faces of Don Johnson, Kate Hudson and M. Emmet Walsh.

Is it a Hollywood Blockbuster? No. Is it for everyone? No. But if you have any interest in writing, reading Novels or Michael Shannon it is worth a watch.

So what is that? One or two thumbs up? Or how about a pair of eyes…..worth a watch? A New rating system is mandatory……….so says I

Bobby