Submission

If you can't figure out exactly how this story is going to unfold during the first ten minutes, you're obviously a very trusting person and probably not too bright. However, Submission is not supposed to keep you guessing and wondering. It is supposed to make you cringe and reach out to the screen, telling the protagonist, "Don't do it!" Stanley Tucci plays a creative writing professor who wrote a best-selling memoir a long time ago. He used to have a lot of prestige and idolatry, but now, he's a little bored. When an insecure, nervous, boundary-less female student approaches him to read pages from her in-progress novel, she's offered herself as bait. Addison Timlin is grungy, with large black roots against bleached, unkempt hair, black nail polish, and an open inappropriateness about her that is widely known by her other teachers - including Janeane Garofalo, who warns Stanley about her! But, Stanley's ego is flattered, his self-importance is built up, and his boredom is replaced by feeling attractive to a young college student who could sleep with a guy her own age any weekend of her choosing. It doesn't matter that Addison is plainly untrustworthy and bad news. It doesn't matter that it's completely unethical. It doesn't matter that he could lose his job and ruin his reputation. It doesn't matter that he has a sexy, attractive, interesting, supportive wife (Kyra Sedgwick) at home. He's selfish and not thinking about the future. That's how people get into trouble.

Although he's in the film for only one scene, Peter Gallagher steals the show (as usual) with great dialogue and screen presence. He tells Stanley that memoirs sell when the author writes about a problem, like an addiction. "Compulsively *sleeping with* your students - that would be great!" It's only one scene, but it's the one you'll remember. The rest of the movie is one giant groan following your warnings to Stanley to stay away from Addison. This is a cautionary tale, and it tells it very well.

Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to sexual content, I wouldn't let my kids watch it.

The lines between a semi-successful, middle-aged novelist/professor and his student are crossed: lines of deceit, intimacy and manipulation. It's a #metoo movement highlighter with the good ol' cliche storyline of a student/teacher relationship and touches on the depths that some will go for success. "Submission" is a slow roller coaster ride of emotions and mild surprises. There is no drop and no climax so if a slow ride is what you desire, press play.

Jtncsmistad provided a great review. Please do take a look at it.

To add my thoughts I am a fan of Tucci, Sedgwick, and Garofalo. The first half of the movie held my interest and I thought they all gave great performances but the second half of the movie unfortunately was very predictable. I don't mind predictable with an interesting story but in this case even great acting did not save the story.

Worth a watch and definitely watch if you are a teacher.

Despite strong performances and good direction this film fizzles out and leaves you disappointed with too many unanswered questions.

Never heard of this one before and thought I would give it a try. Not exactly what I expected and ending was predictable. Wouldn't say I am in a hurry to rewatch it but it wasn't terrible either.