Delia's Gone

Doesn't work. The actors did a valiant job trying to recover this weak plot and screenplay. It just doesn't work. It's just not plausible at all and the premise is weak. The lead actor did his best playing an autistic guy, but it's virtually impossible to pull it off given the script.

The plot is very 1 dimensional and really just becomes kind of a boring effort in trying to maintain the storyline. If that makes any sense at all. Overall it just doesn't work. I'm pretty sure the actors, writers and director would agree. I mean they tried but it's just not a good film. A for effort I guess. Actors did their best.

Delia's Gone is a decent movie. Even though it's fairly slow, it still keeps you invested in the story and the lead character's journey. Stephan James gives a good performance and Paul Walter Hauser is his usual likeable self. The musical score is distinct and fitting.

I really don't have anything specifically bad to say about this movie. I'm not sure what it is, but it didn't do much for me. It's fine. More than fine. But I needed more. It's the usual difference I feel between theatrical movies compared to the lower quality streaming movies. It doesn't have the "it" factor. (1 viewing, 4/9/2023)

Conceptually, it's a great premise for a story, but producer, writer and director Robert Budreau missed a huge opportunity to make this a great film, had he at least consulted a seasoned filmmaker for much needed improvements in his writing and directing.

His story lacked cohesion, intrigue or any suspense. It was told in a static, inconsistent and bland "as a matter of fact" style, that dismisses any opportunity to become captivated or invested, especially when the normally comfortable 90 min runtime dragged on and on with slow pacing and too much filler for the little substance this film had to offer. This film could've easily been cut down to a short film, and it would by more appealing and enjoyable. Budreau's choice of depressing drab colors and poor cinematography just made matters worse. You can also tell he failed to direct his cast properly, especially Marisa Tomei, who seemed lost and out of place in most scenes, as well as some ridiculous dialogue Budreau wrote for her character as well as Stephan James' character. It's a generous 6/10 from me, mostly going to the great cast who did their best with what they were given.

I tried desperately, and I do mean desperately to like this film considering the historical body of work by the leads, Tomei and James. They did what they could with what they were given but why? Why did these two phenomenal actors even attempt to breathe life into this dull and implausible script? Marissa Tomei was the very life of Mona Lisa Vito in My Cousin Vinny and Stephan James embodied Alfonzo Hunt as I'm sure James Baldwin envisioned him when writing If Beale Street Could Talk. Were they doing a favor for writer/director Robert Budreau? Were they begged, threatened? Kidding of course (?). The caliber of these actors rises far above the lackluster script, simplistic direction, and stale cinematography that is the mundanity of Delia's Gone.

In small-town suspenser "Delia's Gone" learning-disabled Stephan James' convicted of killing sis Genelle Williams, but on his release hears he may not've been responsible - sending him quietly, relentlessly (and violently) around his depressed, rural town after the truth via scrotes like Travis Fimmel, Billy MacLellan & Graham Abbey... as Sheriff Paul Walter Hauser & state detective Marisa Tomei hunt him (while addressing tensions between them). Hauser & Tomei's class make them by far the most interesting aspect, but they're too underused to save this from being simplistically mediocre. Writer / director Robert Budreau may have aimed for "Fargo" heights... but missed.