Oleanna

Directed by David Mamet, Oleanna details the increasingly contentious relationship that forms between an arrogant teacher (William H. Macy’s John) and a dimwitted student (Debra Eisenstadt’s Carol). Filmmaker Mamet, armed with his own screenplay, delivers a progressively hit-and-miss drama that does, at least, benefit from Macy’s predictably stellar compelling efforts, as the actor offers up a subtle, compelling performance that goes a long way towards initially capturing the viewer’s interest (and, eventually, elevating the proceedings above its underwhelming stretches). And although the picture contains a number of admittedly engrossing stretches, most of which come within the briskly-paced first half, Oleanna‘s effectiveness is increasingly stymied by a grating, nails-on-a-chalkboard turn by Eisenstadt that slowly-but-surely transforms the picture into an intolerable experience – with the actress’ inability to convincingly sell Mamet’s stylized dialogue ensuring that the movie, for the most part, comes off as hopelessly one-sided. (Carol, in Eisenstadt’s hands, becomes such a vile, noxious figure that one can’t help but cheer when she ultimately receives her comeuppance, which, presumably, can’t possibly have been Mamet’s intention.) The final result is a potentially-powerful endeavor completely and thoroughly undone by a seriously incompetent central performance, with Oleanna‘s palpable failure especially disappointing and distressing given that its subject matter is as relevant now (if not more so) as it was 30 years ago.

** out of ****