Some humorous bits, but needs a re-write
As a former professor of English, I can attest that there is nothing more petty than university politics. It's a topic worthy of satire, and this film delivers it. But there are some major flaws.
A dark comedy about an English professor trying to get tenure, Publish or Perish has some amusing moments, but somevof the dialogue sounds awkward and fake. There are also some inexcusable factual errors. The professor refers to his classes as "English Literature," but in a early scene, he's teaching Kurt Vonnegut. Later, he goes to a junkyard to get a wheel, but it's actually a tire. Any screenwriter worth his or her salt would spot these mistakes and correct them.
In addition, the lack of character development undermines any kind of emotional investment in the players. The protagonist professor is distinctly rude and unlikable, but we're given no idea why. The college dean is a stereotypical pompous ass, bereft of any nuance. The professor's wife is little more than an appendage of her husband. What's missing here is any kind of insight into these people's personalities.
To its credit, the film's plot gets fairly suspenseful, and its absurdist approach is consistent.
This is not a bad movie, just one that needs more depth in its characters and some work on the script.
A dark comedy about an English professor trying to get tenure, Publish or Perish has some amusing moments, but somevof the dialogue sounds awkward and fake. There are also some inexcusable factual errors. The professor refers to his classes as "English Literature," but in a early scene, he's teaching Kurt Vonnegut. Later, he goes to a junkyard to get a wheel, but it's actually a tire. Any screenwriter worth his or her salt would spot these mistakes and correct them.
In addition, the lack of character development undermines any kind of emotional investment in the players. The protagonist professor is distinctly rude and unlikable, but we're given no idea why. The college dean is a stereotypical pompous ass, bereft of any nuance. The professor's wife is little more than an appendage of her husband. What's missing here is any kind of insight into these people's personalities.
To its credit, the film's plot gets fairly suspenseful, and its absurdist approach is consistent.
This is not a bad movie, just one that needs more depth in its characters and some work on the script.
- rhefner2002
- Jan 24, 2024