Missed Opportunity (sigh)

Rating: 2/10 (28 April 2017)

Disappointment
We have a great story that never received rightful promulgation--- never told the way it should have been. What a missed opportunity.
Where do i begin.
First, i would start with the script. Who's idea was it to take a Dramatic story and make it into a "weak comedy?" We're talking about a true life "high stakes game" of international arms dealing. You got a malignant narcissistic ego maniac, a nice guy (down on his luck) and holes in the check balance system of the MIC (Military industrial complex). How can you Lose?...you try and make the story into a comedy.
Second, the Acting. Efrims character; Jonah Hill. Either Hill can't act or his lines for his role are badly written...I think it was both. Instead of drawing this malignant narcissist "Efrim" out into the full audience view, displaying what a true criminal he is, the director chooses to characterize him as some jolly goof ball who's supposedly "deep down" good at heart. The Truth is Efrim is a greedy fat pig who's never been called out for being the pathological liar that he is. The director should have made it a "focus point" to draw that character in full color without any misgivings. Instead, the character is presented as some jolly-ole good old boy from junior high that's really a cool guy (deep down). This is where the film goes wrong. Instead of creating tension between the predatory narcissist Efrim taking advantage of the Nice guy Packouz, we are led to believe the Narc was really deep down a good guy until the end. Again taking a made for Drama movie and turning it into a Comedy---big mistake.
The Main Character Packouz, Played by Miles Teller actually does a decent job of playing the protagonist whos' been victimized by his dirt-bag "fake" friend. He's good hearted, helps his friend make millions, gives him good advice "hey, don't mess up this deal, we're all making money, Henry's making his cut, just roll with it....if you do i'm out of here!" But in the end, like most nice guys gets screwed by his lying fake friend. As example illustrates, Efrim ignores Packouz advice and plays the greedy scrooge that he is and almost gets Packouz killed in the process. If the Director has spent more time developing Packouz's character with more intimate emotional insight his dreams, hopes and motives, the movie would have been much better. Instead, he leaves us with dumb witted arguments between Packouz and his Cuban Girlfriend (a completely unrealistic idealist dreamer). Their discussions are so bad the audience is left to wonder "who's the dumber?"
There are some well done scenes but they are far and few between. Bradly Cooper brings some life to the movie but its a ill fated effort. In the final Scene where Henry (Bradly Cooper) and Packouz meet by fate, we see decent acting between the best actors of the movie. Jonah Hill was a disappointment (probably more due to the script his was given and less so to his acting ability) however Hill has never really been impressive as an actor. If you have to pay for a movie, pass on this one.