Having starred in a number of 'safe' projects, singer/actress Beyonce Knowles has finally decided to return to her roots in Steve Shill's pathetic attempt at a phycological thriller, Obsessed.
Starring the likes of Knowles, Ibris Elba and Ali Larter, one would expect the film to be at the very least interesting. However, not ten minutes in, laughter was heard throughout the theater as the evolving flirtation of Larter and the overly self-concious Knowles became a hysterical sight to witness. The dialogue, smitten with attempted wit and humor, came out cheesy and unrealistic, counteracting the blossoming chemistry that was sure to ignite between our three leads.
Steve Shill, in his first big-screen directing gig, was noting short of painful. The shot selection and random focusing cause for a constant distraction, presenting a choppy, stagnant film that fails to generate momentum or interest. Not to mention that the same exterior shots were used repeatedly throughout the course of the film, a huge negative in terms of creativity and cohesiveness.
That is without mentioning the actual story, which is devilishly stereotypical and generic. From the opening sequence in which our husband and temp agent are introduced to the final all girl cat-fight (easily the best part of the entire film), Obsessed runs on empty. The actions, the dilemmas, the confrontations, they are all expected. And about halfway through, in an attempt to find itself, the story began to take on a horror sense as it amped up the music and provided a few 'jump' scenes. The move was risky, and in the end, it (along with Larter's dry and pathetic attempts at obsession) only gave us another reason to shake our heads at that painstaking humility that continued to unfold.
And as if there weren't enough to laugh at already, the last scene is shown to the voice of our lead star and executive producer Beyonce. Yes, her sure-to-be newest single 'Smash Into You' comforts the credits, allowing for one last jab at both the film and its pathetic assembly.
