There's one compelling reason to watch The Revisionist, and it's right there in the title. Alex Vlack is incredibly lucky to have Dustin Hoffman at the center of his feature film debut, which otherwise struggles to live up to expectations.
Hoffman plays David, a legendary writer alternately, and quite accurately, described as a "national treasure" and a "real pain in the ass." No one is more torn between these two definitions than his son, Jacob (Tom Sturridge), who has been trying for years to write a biography of his father. David is uninterested in sharing his complex history or his many secrets, which frustrates Jacob greatly. He hopes that a biography of his famous father will not only boost his own career but also shed light on his complex life, both as a child and now, as a married woman to writer Eliza (Alison Brie).
When Jacob accidentally runs into his old friend John (André Holland), Eliza has an idea. David has always been dismissive of Jacob—the guy who writes advertising copy instead of fiction—but he adored John, whose work was published in New York magazine right after he graduated from college. So, Eliza suggests, maybe John can get David to open up, record their conversations, and then pass them on to Jacob.
Obviously, this plan falls apart immediately—or, more accurately, when John secretly calls The New Yorker, promising to write David's story himself. And that's only the beginning of the deception, as everyone seems to have ulterior motives of one kind or another.
Holland (Moonlight) is particularly compelling as the mirror image of the sullen Sturridge (a two-time Tony nominee, most recently for his role in Sea Wall/A Life). Selfish and magnetic, John is ultimately everything the insecure Jacob is not. But Vlack, who also wrote the screenplay, is completely at a loss for what to do with the only woman in his film. He tries to convince us—and himself—that she is the true center of the story. In reality, she spends most of her time reacting to men or staring wistfully into space.
But if the energy drops significantly when she and Sturridge appear on screen, it explodes as soon as Hoffman appears. He screams, curses, drinks, moans, and brings the film to life, relishing in overacting in every scene he appears in.
David is capricious, neglectful, and even cruel to his son. And what makes Jacob's pain worse is that no one else sees it—everyone is happy just to be around this captivating, charismatic character. Hoffman's playful manner makes it easy for us to empathize with him.
The article "'The Revisionist' Review: Dustin Hoffman Masterfully Revives a Tired Drama" first appeared on TheWrap.