Rob Lowe, James Franco in Ben Shapiro-Penned Film
The Hollywood Reporter • • entertainment
Key Points:
- "Confession," scripted by Ben Shapiro and directed by Václav Marhoul, portrays a brutal Stalin-era interrogation but suffers from a dull and tedious execution, despite its intense and gritty tone.
- The film features a notable ensemble cast including James Franco, Rob Lowe, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Nick Nolte, with casting choices possibly intended as a rebuke to Hollywood studios.
- The story centers on Alexei, a former literature professor imprisoned in 1938 Moscow, whose interrogator is his former student Vladimir, leading to a dialogue-heavy narrative filled with literary references.
- The film's claustrophobic setting and stilted performances, particularly in the interrogation scenes, contribute to a stagebound and numbing viewing experience lasting 132 minutes.
- While visually striking and intense, "Confession" ultimately feels like a showcase for Shapiro's literary knowledge rather than a compelling prison drama.
