Blackmail on Apple TV: Jonah Hill navel-gazing through Keanu Reeves (review)
Behind the procrastination of an actor threatened by his broken past, Jonah Hill mainly spends his time telling us that he is a good person.
For his third film behind the camera, Jonah Hill confirms what we already strongly suspected: he only knows how to talk about himself. 90’s ? Inspired by his childhood. The Stutz method ? A documentary on his psychiatrist to discuss his mental health problems. And Blackmailwhich has just arrived on Apple TV? Another way of telling a story, through the trajectory of a movie star with an inflated ego. While it’s not necessarily a problem for a director to spend his time navel-gazing (others have made a career of it), it becomes more annoying when the exercise borders on self-justification.
In BlackmailHill features Reef (Keanu Reeves), a former child star who has become a huge movie star. An actor with an immaculate public image, but who meticulously hides a past as a heroin addict and a loser. Sober for five years, Reef lives in isolation with a tiny entourage, made up of two longtime friends (Cameron Diaz and Matt Bomer, who don’t have much to play). Until a stranger threatens to publish a mysterious private video… Enough to force him to make a tour of more or less sincere apologies to people he may have hurt, in an attempt to unmask the blackmailer.
We quickly understand that the entire film is supposed to explain how the Hollywood system produces self-centered and narcissistic beings, with problems with mental health, drugs or alcohol. The idea is neither very new nor very salient, but what irritates a little is this little music which would like to lead us to the conclusion that the stars full of themselves are deep down good people, victims of the solitude forced by their status. Nothing would therefore be their fault.
As proof, the not innocent choice of Keanu Reeves, renowned for being the nicest guy in the business, in the main role. Furthermore, Hill does not hesitate to make Reef his avatar and therefore grant himself absolution, while offering himself the character of an exuberant and buffoonish lawyer in order to cover his tracks.
A little complicated to feel concerned by all that, even if the film is miraculously not detestable – the Reeves effect is in full effect – and has the good idea of packing the affair into 1 hour 20 minutes. Blackmail also contains some well-structured comedy scenes, and even an unexpected emotional moment from Martin Scorsese. The opportunity to remember that he is also an excellent actor.
Blackmail, by Jonah Hill, with Keanu Reeves, Cameron Diaz, Matt Boomer, Jonah Hill… On Apple TV.
