"A Hologram For the King" (2016 release; 97 min.) brings the story of Alan Clay (played by Tom Hanks). As the movie opens, we see Alan sing the Talking Heads song "Once In A Lifetime" (...with a beautiful house, and a beautiful life... how did I get here?). Turns out Alan was dreaming as he's really on a plane headed to Saudi Arabia, where he and his sales team are to pitch a major IT sale to the King himself. (Only later do we understand what connection Alan has to the King.) Alan is not adjusting well upon his arrival, and in fact oversleeps the next morning. In a panic, Alan hires a car and driver to take him to the King's Metropolis of Economy & Trade, site of the new project. At this point we're less than 10 minutes into the movie, but to tell you more might spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.
Couple of comments: this is the big screen adaptation of Daved Eggert's bet-selling (and critically acclaimed) book of the same name. I have not read the book, so I cannot comment how closely (or not) the movie sticks to the book. The movie is written and directed by Tom Tykwer, the German director best known for Run Lola Run, and some years ago The International. Here he tackles the familiar "fish out of water" theme of an American being in unfamiliar territory and culture. When I saw the opening scene with the Talking Heads song, and we then dive straight into Saudi Arabia, the question of course is how the Tom Hanks character got to that particular point in his life (we later learn in flashback glimpses). I thought the first hour of the movie worked really well, and reminded me somehow in a general of Sofia Coppola's "Lost in Translation". The movie falters when the (inevitable?) potential romantic interest develops between the Tom Hanks character and his doctor (yes, a female doctor in Saudi Arabia!). when he develops a bad cyst on his back. Tom Hanks remains an enjoyable actor to watch, and develops a great chemistry with Alexander Black (in the role of the driver/guide). The movie is shot beautifully (Morocco and Egypt stand in for Saudi, although there is some very interesting footage from Mecca as well).
"A Hologram for the King" opens this weekend, but my local art-house theater here in Cincinnati had a preview screening tonight (yes, Thursday is the new Friday). The screening was reasonably well attended, and judging from the crowd's reaction, most of them really enjoyed the movie. This looks like it could have some legs in the theater, assuming word-of-mouth builds. If you are interested in foreign cultures, I'd suggest you check this out, be it in the theater, on Amazon Instant Video or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray.
Couple of comments: this is the big screen adaptation of Daved Eggert's bet-selling (and critically acclaimed) book of the same name. I have not read the book, so I cannot comment how closely (or not) the movie sticks to the book. The movie is written and directed by Tom Tykwer, the German director best known for Run Lola Run, and some years ago The International. Here he tackles the familiar "fish out of water" theme of an American being in unfamiliar territory and culture. When I saw the opening scene with the Talking Heads song, and we then dive straight into Saudi Arabia, the question of course is how the Tom Hanks character got to that particular point in his life (we later learn in flashback glimpses). I thought the first hour of the movie worked really well, and reminded me somehow in a general of Sofia Coppola's "Lost in Translation". The movie falters when the (inevitable?) potential romantic interest develops between the Tom Hanks character and his doctor (yes, a female doctor in Saudi Arabia!). when he develops a bad cyst on his back. Tom Hanks remains an enjoyable actor to watch, and develops a great chemistry with Alexander Black (in the role of the driver/guide). The movie is shot beautifully (Morocco and Egypt stand in for Saudi, although there is some very interesting footage from Mecca as well).
"A Hologram for the King" opens this weekend, but my local art-house theater here in Cincinnati had a preview screening tonight (yes, Thursday is the new Friday). The screening was reasonably well attended, and judging from the crowd's reaction, most of them really enjoyed the movie. This looks like it could have some legs in the theater, assuming word-of-mouth builds. If you are interested in foreign cultures, I'd suggest you check this out, be it in the theater, on Amazon Instant Video or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray.