The Longest Week (2014)

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

I was disappointed bc I'm a fan of Jason Bateman and he usually has pretty good films. It was to mildly entertaining and just all over the place.

I am always puzzled by the reviewers who use a hidden template on films -- if it's romance, it's gotta be ... if it's drama, it's gotta be ... as though film reviews were written by traffic cops. They even criticize the characters on the screen for being less than moral heroes. Amazingly, the same people who scoff at the rich shallow characters in this film will watch Natural Born Killers and praise it, as though those characters were admirable.But there should be no argument that the characters in this film are exquisitely drawn and portrayed, the scenes are perfect, the dialog impeccable, and the whole plot not at all implausible. These folk are as real as the castles in Europe and the crustaceans under the sea -- why should they not appear on film? Are they less watchable than the usual drug pushers, prostitutes, assassins, blackmailers, rapists, serial killers, and ghouls that populate other films? Those who complain that Longest Week is not a proper a morality play are correct -- it is not. It is a depiction of the sea foam of our society, of people who enjoy the greatest of privilege and return nothing. They are not bad people -- they are just zeroes. They are the useless consumers, the top of the food chain. And we reward them with the greatest of wealth. Kudos for mentioning it. Beautifully.

Romantic comedy, lightweight but fun. I found it on Netflix streaming movies.Jason Bateman is Conrad Valmont, 40-ish, and has always lived a life of luxury in the family hotel. He fashions himself as an author but when anyone asks about his current book he just says he is "gathering data." As he has been for several years. But he has it made with luxurious living quarters, an allowance, and a chauffeur. But mom and dad decide to split up and neither of them wants to carry the burden of Conrad's expenses. He basically has to leave on short notice, broke and with no place to live.So he does what anyone in his situation would do, he goes to his friend from childhood, Billy Crudup as single guy Dylan Tate, and asks if he can crash there for a while. Dylan doesn't mind but he has one request, rather a demand, that Conrad NOT go after his girlfriend.The girlfriend is Olivia Wilde as Beatrice Fairbanks. In spite of his assurances, Conrad in fact does have an eye for her. But to be fair here, she is probably even more to blame, as she makes overtures to him first, and they begin seeing each other on the sly.So that is basically it, the romantic triangle and the need for Conrad to finally grow up, learn how to make his own way through life. It is mostly entertaining but ultimately forgettable. I mainly enjoyed it for the three main actors, I like all of them.

The story about a wealthy hotel heir (Bateman) who is suddenly cut off then moves in with his best friend (Crudup) and falls for the friends girlfriend (Wilde). There are some good points a few light laughs and some nice music both jazz and classical. Woody Allen comes to mind. The narration is interesting too. Quite absorbing to see filming in Brooklyn as opposed to Manhattan. But the story isn't good enough. After getting you to feel for the romance between the two leads (Bateman and Wilde), then when things don't work out it feels like it was all for nothing. A connection between Crudup and Wilde's character isn't built up. There is no feel good ending which a light hearted comedy like this should have had. The only satisfying thing is he got his money back. There could have been a bit more depth and insight to the characters.The cast is a bit older looking than they should be for the characters. Jason Bateman doesn't quite have the rich guy thing down that convincingly. Billy Crudup is a bit haggard looking here. Olivia Wilde isn't as thin as she was before so doesn't quite fit the rail thin model look of today that her character requires. Her face is striking enough to be a model though.Overall not a must see - only if you are a fan of one of the stars.