Miss Nobody

This movie has everything you would want in a great movie: spot on actor selections, great plot, excellent locations, funny narration and dialog. But, it winds up being just a so-so movie. It is a movie that found me reaching for the remote to fast-forward more than once due to it's tendency to drag along in places, only to leap to another situation. It is a movie that you WANT to cheer for, but can't. You WANT it to succeed, but it doesn't. Excitement builds at the end, with fairly good pacing, but it is almost too little, too late. Given the abilities of actors involved and the really funny plot, I feel that a different director would be able to tie this up into a neat package that would be on my list of movies to wear-out watching.

This film reminded me immediately of one of my favorite films - Amélie. It is delivered in the same quirky, cartoon-like style but without the mesmerizing charm and flowing story line. The acting by Leslie Bibb was fantastic and she did a wonderful job with what she was given. Everyone in the cast was outstanding and acted their hearts out. I can easily see why they all won awards for their performances in Boston. The main problem I found with this movie was that after the first half hour it was so repetitive and predictable, I found myself looking at my watch every 5 minutes. That being said, I appreciated the director's (Tim Cox) dedication to the style of Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Amélie), as I imagine that these kind of films are much more difficult to direct and produce than a straight forward, dark comedy. I was relieved when it all came to an end.

Leslie Bibb gives a wonderful performance in the lead combining a naive outlook with her own personal justification that carries the film. Everything works here, and all in all, this is a fun (and surprisingly non-violent) murderous trip into the corporate world that could well be a sleeper hit like Office Space was - it is a good little film, with loads of character actors that you'll recognize, a strong romance, and suspense, and is, all in all, a wry take on corporate life.

As a massive plus, it is beautifully shot, the use of grading and filters is superb and adds much. Throughout the film the color grading and shots are really really nice and the overall sense that this was lovingly made shines through.

Miss Nobody is one my favorite comedies about work since Office Space. Though much more like Amelie than an out and out satire, this tale of the secretary who almost innocently murders her way to the top of the corporate ladder is actually engaging and fun.

Sarah Jane McKinney (Leslie Bibb) is "Miss Nobody", a secretary for a pharmaceutical company who has no boyfriend but faith that her guiding angel will send her messages as to what she should be doing. Her mother ensures her that everybody lies, so a very smudged resume gets her a promotion to junior executive.

Sarah Jane is mostly concerned about finding her knight in shining armour since a job is only a job and doesn't warm your heart. Karma, an underlining belief in this film, says that you get what you deserve. She didn't really deserve that promotion, and indeed finds that she lost it after all and is now a secretary for a new, young, handsome company transfer. But that must be her path in life since he's handsome and men always sleep with their secretary.

But to be clear, this is not a romantic comedy. It's a light-hearted dark, crime comedy. It seems fantasy-like, or even cartoon-like in its use of colour, narration and score choice. It tries to be edgy, like film noir, but is way too silly for that mix to work well. But it is fun, and that is most likely its ultimate aim.

When she accidentally murders her handsome boss, it turns out she wants to aim high in the corporate world – she wants the corner office. As her guiding angel sends her more messages, it looks like more accidental murders might be in her future and life is looking pretty grand for Miss Sarah Jane.

The best part of the film is Adam Goldberg, he introduces himself as her knight in shining armour, and while she is smitten with him, he happens to be a homicide detective. The instant conflict that we can see in their relationship is handled well.

The performances throughout the film are great and the sense of fun is always there. They are definitely going for something fairly unique and for the most part they succeed in that. There was a bit too much narration; better films would be able to show me what they need to and then let me figure out the rest, and things get wrapped up in a slightly unsatisfying way, but for "Miss Nobody" it's more about the journey and how we get there.

This is a quirky and enjoyable enough movie, but entirely forgettable.

Leslie Bibb, inspired by her Guardian angel, Saint George bumps off a collection of her colleagues in various inspired "accidents". She seems to become increasingly creative and eager with her exploits as the film gallops along. Also, where did her super strength come from, Supergirl has nothing on her, slinging dead bodies around like paper mache. Hilarious.

I loved Barry Bostwick as the priest and other supporting characters were also great.

She gets her just deserts in the end, just as she's about to swan off into the sunset. A pity in a' way.