IR Film Review: BEST SELLERS [Screen Media]
The idea of creativity or its insular reluctance or the texture of its path is always in the eyes of the beholder. "Best Sellers" tries to show that path in the progression of a nihilist. The interesting structure is the reverse casting of Aubrey Plaza and Michael Caine that gives it its fragility but also, at times, a lack of edge. Plaza is known on her shows and real life for an almost (and sometimes unusual) snarky persona snaked with an almost bitter truth. Michael Caine, despite his heyday, has become more known as perhaps the suave and gentle grandfather with a saccharine bit of snark. We haven't seen him be overtly vicious in recent time but his older filmography of course backs up his inherent credentials in that department.
Bringing him in to play a badly behaved novelist who doesn't want to read his book on book tour and instead proclaims "bullshite" is an interesting approach because it can borderline alienate the audience. There is a path of resolution and it is understandable in its reasoning but not to the path maybe that it is shown. His character's action are incessantly cruel but the viciousness does walk the borderline when the audience needs to see a sliver of hope. Plaza plays a book publisher who inherited a publishing company from her father only to find herself drowning because she has yet to make a mark. Plaza plays it straight laced with really no tongue-in-cheek portrayal but one almost expects her to explode. Her eventual winning over or understanding of Caine's Harris makes sense but is dependent on Caine's unbalance at times. The road trip motif of unlikely bedmates (not romantic though) offers an interesting idea on social media and what buzz means.
Eventually the progression of meaning of Harris' book rests in his inability or maybe lack of want to understand the nature of his darkness and resentment. He resents everyone and tries to drink it all away despite the simple nature of his self destructiveness. Plaza for her part plays a very hopeful soul but one who doesn't quite understand the world she wants to live in. But her path does show the importance of such belief. While there is less trademark improv, likely Plaza is trying to show a different side of herself. Cary Elwes makes an interesting and brief cameo as a book critic which is undeniably both off-putting and funny but his brother Cassian Elwes also is a producer on the film. "Best Seller" speaks to the idea that success is not necessarily what one expects it to be but instead is a sum of parts that sometimes adds up and at other times does not. C+
By Tim Wassberg
