‘I forgot how gorgeous this place is…’
Since breaking through on Breaking Bad, Jesse Plemons’ career has gone from strength to strength. His ascent from character actor to leading man has been heartening to witness, not least because it is a true reflection of his formidable talent. The fact that he is now able to carry a high profile Netflix original is a testament to how far he has come. Having said that, apparently Windfall has been quite badly received by critics. I genuinely don’t understand why…
A nameless tech bro (Plemons) and his philanthropist wife (Lily Collins) are robbed at gun point by a character credited in the script as Nobody (Jason Segal). Shot during the coronavirus pandemic, Windfall takes place exclusively at Plemons’ character’s lavish holiday home.
I will begin by stating that I kind of understand why Windfall has had bad reviews. Its message is a little on the nose and the fact that all three main characters are intensely unlikable makes it tough to know who to root for. I happen to think that the latter decision was deliberate on the part of writer/director Charlie McDowell, but not everybody agrees. The reason I loved Windfall was not for the script or for the didactic message but rather for the acting, the screeching score and the beautiful location. Plemons and Segal play a delicious game of cat and mouse which sees both actors throwing themselves into their respective roles with gusto. Whilst we have seen this kind of character from Plemons before, Segal’s moody and hapless thief marks a career high point for an actor who has always been underrated. Throw in a never better Lily Collins and you have a film that is often verbose, but never at the expense of the story.
Staged almost like a three man play (until Omar Levya’s luckless gardener shows up), Windfall is a thriller that genuinely thrills with an ending that lives up to all that has come before. The fact that I watched it on a plane ensured that I was hooked throughout, and for those looking for an unchallenging but entertaining watch, Windfall is a great option.
It’s clearly not going to win any awards, but for fans of any of the main cast members Windfall should be essential viewing.