Primetime

Directed by Lance Oppenheim, Primetime follows Chris Hansen (Robert Pattinson) as he attempts to balance his personal and professional lives during the shooting of To Catch a Predator. Filmmaker Oppenheim, armed with a screenplay by Ajon Singh, delivers a perpetually oddball endeavor that never becomes quite as stirring or engrossing as one might’ve hoped (and, given the electrifying subject matter, expected), as the picture’s been suffused with a decidedly (and aggressively) ostentatious feel that’s reflected in many of its attributes – with this particularly true of grainy, hazy, and almost avant-garde visuals that remain a frustrating distraction from start to finish. It’s clear, then, that Primetime’s mild success is due to a typically commanding and idiosyncratic turn by Pattinson, as the actor offers up persistently striking performance that goes a long way towards compensating for the movie’s less-than-spellbinding elements. (The eclectic supporting cast, which includes Skyler Gisondo, Anna Faris, Merritt Wever, and Phoebe Bridgers, is just as good here, to be sure.) By the time the less-than-taut third act rolls around, Primetime has cemented its place as a watchable but disappointing drama that feels like it could (and should) be so much better.

**1/2 out of ****