HBO’s latest film, “Mountainhead,” written and directed by Jesse Armstrong, has left many fans of his hit series “Succession” underwhelmed. The movie follows four tech-bro billionaires on a snowy weekend retreat while the world crumbles under a “rolling international crisis.” However, this setup fails to translate into an engaging story, with the plot meandering for 100 minutes before finally delivering a somewhat predictable climax.
The cast, which includes Steve Carell, Ramy Youssef, Cory Michael Smith, and Jason Schwartzman, delivers lackluster performances, playing variations of the same character inspired by tech mogul icons like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk. The movie’s attempts at satire on the wealthy elite and their use of AI to manipulate public opinion fall flat, with the film feeling more like a rehashing of “Succession” without its trademark humor.
Armstrong initially aimed to create a standalone project that explored themes of power and control in the tech industry. However, it appears this vision has been compromised by his own borrowed ideas, resulting in a film that feels disconnected from its own identity.
Despite some positive aspects, such as the beautiful mountain setting and Nicholas Britell’s score, “Mountainhead” ultimately fails to deliver on its promise of a compelling drama or dark comedy satire. With a meandering plot and poor performances, it’s hard to recommend this film to fans of Armstrong’s work. Unless you’re a die-hard fan of tech bros causing chaos, there’s little reason to watch “Mountainhead.”
Source: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mountainhead-hbo-review_n_682f3f2de4b0e1fe96d613c0