Saturday, July 22, 2017

If 'I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore' Is Any Indication, Marcon Blair Should Do More Writing and Directing Than Acting

Ruth (Melanie Lynskey) is a gauche, depressed nursing assistant having a bad day.  But it only gets worse when she arrives home and discovers she has been robbed.  Fed up by rampant human indecency in a seemingly meaningless world, she seeks the help of her eccentric neighbor Tony (Elijah Wood) and, together, they go after the burglars themselves.  However, they aren’t exactly equipped for such feats of vigilantism.

Such is the plot of I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore – stylized as I don’t feel at home in this world anymore. – a comedy crime thriller film written and directed by this unknown actor named Marcon Blair.  This is his writing and directing debut, and if it’s any indication, he has more promise of success in this side of the camera.
IDFAHITWA (let me shorten that title out) is smart comedy.  It’s dark, quirky, and loaded with ridiculous elements.  But amid the hilarious absurdities these qualities create, real-life is also reflected.  The characters are over-the-top, yet authentic.  The situations are goofy, yet relatable.  These oxymoronic shades make the emotions and observations raised in the film very familiar.  Thus, the entire story arc becomes engrossing.

Aside from being a social commentary of sorts, it’s also a philosophical rambling of sorts.  At first, I thought it was going to go with a nihilistic direction, a la God Bless America.  But it ends up in a more hopeful, meaningful destination.  I was more satisfied that way.
Overall, I enjoyed IDFAHITWA.  It’s not a comedy masterpiece, but it’s quite funny and thoughtful.  It’s one of those delightful movies that people tend to miss each year because it’s unconventional, doesn’t have much hype, and isn’t readily accessible.

No comments: