The popstar comeback is always fraught with risk and whilst many are successful and highly lucrative – Take That, Backstreet Boys etc there’s a notable number which are clearly driven by unexpected tax demands. And let’s be fair the ones we really want to make a comeback don’t seem to be answering their phones, at least that’s what our Editor tells us whenever he leaves a message at Gracelands. The comeback in Opus is that of Alfred Moretti, (John Malkovich) one that our Editor was very interested in until we told him it was a fictional singer and not a German beer (‘You’re fired!’ – Ed). Moretti was a huge deal with record breaking tours and influential records despite him looking like a Dad at an Elton John cosplay event. But the star has withdrawn from public for decades and the announcement of his return with an unexpected new album, ‘Caesar’s Request’ is big news when he invites a variety of people to attend his remote ranch where he has hidden himself away for decades.
Amongst those that are invited include a paparazzi photographer, a podcaster, TV host (Juliette Lewis) and of course an influencer, But there’s also a magazine Editor and most unexpected of all is a talented cub reporter Ariel Ecton (Ayo Edebiri) who has never been given a fair break by her boss and even now he insists that he will write the feature and she can take notes for him. All are whisked away for a few days at Moretti’s isolated compound populated by robed acolytes or ‘levellists’ as Moretti calls them. But whilst the rest of the guests are in awe of the singer its only Ariel who can see that Moretti has become a cult leader and that’s the real story rather than his new belated album release. That the guests have to be shaved all over before they are allowed to listen to the first track of the album is a precursor to the weirdness and a warning to what will follow and as written by Mark Anthony Green, a former GQ Editor (who also directs) he should have plenty to say but it’s actually a throw away cameo with Bill Bur who sums up Moretti’s return in a typically acerbic takedown. But that’s as good as it gets because what could be an entertaining insight into celebrity events (and every PR and journo who has been to such events has a story to tell) this passes up the opportunity instead for quirky episodic events that culminates in a scene where it all changes quite dramatically and yet it never really gels. Part ‘Blink Twice’ (which is far superior), part ‘Glass Onion’, part ‘The Menu’ but all seen before.
It’s John Malkovich who comes out of this best in a typically unhinged performance that he excels at. But the film wastes Juliette Lewis and Ayo Edebiri as the tentative reporter trying to make her mark yet never persuasive when Moretti ups the stakes to a life threatening level and an end scene that’s an unsatisfying payoff. Opus is an example of a great trailer for a film that doesn’t deliver what it promises.
related feature : Channing Tatum in Blink Twice – reviewed
related feature : Jon Ronson talks about his cults and conspiracies plus his favourite films
Here’s the Opus trailer……
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