An Acceptable Loss, 2019.
Directed by Joe Chappelle.
Starring Tika Sumpter, Ben Tavassoli, and Jamie Lee Curtis.
SYNOPSIS:
Former U.S. security adviser Elizabeth “Libby” Lamm is threatened by people from her past, including steely politician Rachel Burke.
An Acceptable Loss is a political thriller that lacks thrills or politics. It shoots for the stars, sometimes reaching them, but sadly, there are times it reaches and fails. Hell, there are times where it feels director Joe Chapelle didn’t even try to shoot for the stars but was comfortable right where he stands.
There’s an undeniable charm to this movie though, something that grabs you in and keeps you through even the dullest of moments. Maybe it’s Tika Sumpter getting to stretch her wings, or Jamie Lee Curtis classing up the joint, but I couldn’t help but keep watching all this drama unfold.
And by the time credits roll on An Acceptable Loss, the convincing acting from the two leads and the twist-filled story will help you accept your loss of time.
The story of An Acceptable Loss is appealing on a surface level; former national security adviser Libby Lamm (Tika Sumpter) feels haunted by the fact she signed off on a military order that was supposed to end the war on terror but sadly cost many lives instead. Her former boss, the now-president (Jamie Lee Curtis), will do anything in her power to make sure she never speaks a word of this to anyone.
Again, the idea is solid, and for the most part, it works on-screen as well. There’s just something that lacks within the film’s story that doesn’t allow you to connect with what’s happening entirely. And that’s a shame as both Sumpter and Curtis eat up the material given to them. Even actor Ben Tavassoli does the best he can with a strange role that often feels disjointed from the rest of the film.
With the number of flashbacks and the baggage that comes from this type of story, An Acceptable Loss needs way more time to flesh it all out. The overall editing of the film feels much like television where it jumps between scenes randomly without much time spent on any, something you see on TV a lot. But I won’t be seeing more of these characters next week, and this isn’t a series finale of a long-running show, so those fleeting moments feel wasted.
With both leading women and director Joe Chappelle’s experience on television, let’s hope someone uses this film as a way to sell it as a series as there’s something worth telling with this story.
Another sign that makes this feel like television or even a streaming service product is the film’s overall look. The color grading is cold, giving everything this muted look. Even in a scene during outside during daylight, it feels like clouds are covering the sun.
This look is a telltale sign of an independent project and feels way to common nowadays; you can put stills from a low-budget film and Hollywood release right next to each other, and you’ll be able to tell the difference. Pair that with some lackluster camera work and flat lighting, and you have a very dull-looking movie.
As a fan of Jamie Lee Curtis, An Acceptable Loss is easy to recommend. As someone who loves seeing women in roles that surely would’ve gone to men a few years ago, celebrate that with a watch. But temper your expectations a bit as the film has just as many praises as it does issues.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★
EJ Moreno
