After a 17-year absence behind the digital camera, David Mamet adapts his 2023 play Henry Johnson for the silver display screen. And his signature energy dynamics, ethical corruption, and raging machismo are evident in one other blistering onslaught of rapid-fire dialogue. The manufacturing takes place in three stark settings with a minimalist set design, lighting, and sound cues, a bare-bones strategy that will have labored if the fabric or characters had been fascinating. Henry Johnson is not participating and would not spur the visceral response of Mamet’s earlier Pulitzer Prize-winning work. The result’s a tedious journey that lacks cinematic advantage.
The title character can finest be described as a weed blowing within the wind of masculine dominance, and Henry Johnson’s plot is slowly revealed because the protagonist makes unhealthy selections below the affect of males he views as stronger and extra authoritative than him. Admiration begets foolishness, which in flip results in better stupidity and worse penalties. It is no shock that the supply of his inside dysfunction is an lack of ability to know and cope with feminine companionship: Mamet’s all the time dude-centric, and there is no deviation right here.
Henry Johnson
2
/5
- Launch Date
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Might 9, 2025
- Runtime
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85 Minutes
- Director
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David Mamet
- Writers
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David Mamet
- Shia LaBeouf is great in a supporting efficiency.
- Protracted and uninteresting with unlikable characters and apparent themes.
- It is a play on display screen with no cinematic values.
Unhealthy Recommendation, Bro
The narrative opens with Henry (Evan Jonigkeit) being referred to as into the workplace of his boss, Mr. Barnes (Chris Bauer). An intensive backwards and forwards lastly will get to the nitty-gritty level: Henry, who we assume is a lawyer, has advisable a convicted felon for a job with the agency. The applicant served years in jail after agreeing to a plea deal. Henry knew him in school, and held a deep admiration for his abilities as a lothario; the person even provided to share his spoils with the meek Henry. Henry believes the unnamed pal has completed his time and deserves a shot at redemption.
Mr. Barnes, after all, digs deeper and skewers Henry’s model of occasions, resulting in a scene the place we be taught the ugly nature of the defendant’s crime in opposition to his girlfriend. It is terrible, and calls into query how Henry may very well be so naive as to help this man’s return to society. Then, one other shoe drops with damning implications that considerably have an effect on Henry’s well-being. The following time we see him is unpacking in a jail cell as his new roommate, the tattooed and imposing Gene (Shia LaBeouf), enters.
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Mamet (Glengarry Glen Ross, State and Primary, Spartan) stays true to kind with lengthy and detailed exposition. Nothing is simple or succinct; everybody has phrases of recommendation for Henry, however all of them need one thing in return. That is the window into aHenry’s naturally submissive persona, as he intrinsically invitations management from each alpha male he encounters. He is the bottom rung on the ladder, and he begs to be stepped on.
Jonigkeit spends the vast majority of the movie listening, nodding, and accepting, with none severe pushback. Mamet’s blocking for the primary two acts has him sitting whereas the opposite characters circle like vultures. The jail setting has him fearful, so his reticence does make sense. The truth that Gene begins with a jailhouse primer on avoiding rape and shanking does have his consideration rapt. However what occurs subsequent is par for the course when crucial considering and self-preservation proceed to fail Henry.
Shia LaBeouf’s Very good
It is vital to notice that Mamet is not espousing misogyny or agreeing with Gene’s invective in direction of ladies; he is framing particular character traits that maintain sway over Henry. The primary act illustrates why Henry was so impressed by the faculty creep, who may go dwelling with a special lady each night time and did not need to pay lease. LaBeouf, excellent as all the time, represents the subsequent evolution of Henry’s heroes, delivering a grotesque monologue about Snow White that will have Andrew Tate doing somersaults of approval. Henry’s willingness to hear and act on this sexist rubbish makes him an unlikable idiot, and there is by no means a sliver of sympathy for Henry as his life spirals in direction of destruction. Mamet’s harsh lesson is realized and deserved in a predictable last act.
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Henry Johnson will be appreciated for Mamet’s intricate screenplay, and LaBeouf’s supporting efficiency. Some Mamet followers will devour this movie and all of its protracted rambling, whereas others will not be capable of get previous the yawn issue. The repulsive materials is not meant to be debatable. Henry’s actions are apparent, given his observe report, and it is a slog getting by way of all of the yapping when the movie is not visually thrilling. If you’re watching an austere play with fundamental manufacturing values., it is a misplaced trigger if the script and characters aren’t compelling.
Henry Johnson is a 1993 manufacturing. It premieres on Might ninth on the Aero Theatre in Los Angeles, and can be accessible to lease right here, with extra markets opening all through the month.