X
- 2023
- R
- Sony Pictures Classics
- 1 h 32 m
- 2023
- R
- Sony Pictures Classics
- 1 h 32 m
Summary Ben (Justin H. Min), a struggling filmmaker, lives in Berkeley, California, with his girlfriend, Miko (Ally Maki), who works for a local Asian American film festival. When he’s not managing an arthouse movie theater as his day job, Ben spends his time obsessing over unavailable blonde women, watching Criterion Collection DVDs, and eating...
Directed By: Randall Park
Written By: Adrian Tomine
- 2023
- R
- Sony Pictures Classics
- 1 h 32 m
- 2023
- R
- Sony Pictures Classics
- 1 h 32 m
Shortcomings
67
6.3
Where to Watch
Summary Ben (Justin H. Min), a struggling filmmaker, lives in Berkeley, California, with his girlfriend, Miko (Ally Maki), who works for a local Asian American film festival. When he’s not managing an arthouse movie theater as his day job, Ben spends his time obsessing over unavailable blonde women, watching Criterion Collection DVDs, and eating...
Directed By: Randall Park
Written By: Adrian Tomine
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 24 Critic Reviews
67
75% Positive
18 Reviews
18 Reviews
25% Mixed
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 24 Critic Reviews
67
75% Positive
18 Reviews
18 Reviews
25% Mixed
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Park proves to be a director with style and wit to spare, staging revelatory sequences that walk the narrow line between comedy and provocation.
Shortcomings isn’t revolutionary, but it’s authentic, resonant, and laugh-out-loud funny.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 10 User Ratings
6.3
60% Positive
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
30% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
10% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 10 User Ratings
6.3
60% Positive
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
30% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
10% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
When life doesn’t quite turn out as planned, it’s easy to become frustrated, cynical and embittered, falling into a trap of unrelenting wallowing and victimhood from which it’s difficult to escape. But what will staying in such a rut accomplish? That’s the harsh reality that an aspiring but unsuccessful Bay Area filmmaker (Justin H, Min) must face when his plans never materialize as hoped for, circumstances that taint his overall outlook and impact other areas of his life, such as his increasingly strained relationship with his live-in girlfriend (Ally Maki). To address these issues, he frequently seeks the advice of his best friend/confidante, a wisecracking, serial-dating lesbian (Sherry Cola) whose own life is more than a little dysfunctional. Their friendship is thus essentially tantamount to an ongoing exercise in misery loves company. But the unfulfilled auteur is suddenly and unexpectedly forced to get off the dime when his significant other announces that she’s moving to New York to accept an internship, leaving him alone in Berkeley. So what is he to do now? That’s what he’s about to find out. However, this unforeseen time by himself proves to be a dual-edged sword, an opportunity for newfound personal freedom but also a time in which he’s forced to get his life back on track, a dicey struggle in many respects – not to mention one filled with ample unanticipated fallout. This smartly written offering is full of eye-opening, unexpected plot twists, but they never feel forced, and they’re often quite revelatory about the protagonist’s true nature. In doing so, the picture successfully and intriguingly combines multiple genres, including romantic comedies tinged with elements typical of character studies, matinee dramas and hard-hitting social commentaries. Debut director Randall Park has also infused this release with an array of biting one-liners and a pervasively edgy quality when it comes to the true nature of relationships, an attribute not unlike that found in films like “(500) Days of Summer” (2009), “Bros” (2022), “Crazy Rich Asians” (2018), and even such Woody Allen projects as “Manhattan” (1979) and “Annie Hall” (1977). What’s more, “Shortcomings” is not afraid to show the unflattering sides of otherwise-likable characters, a theme frequently seen in the movies of filmmakers like Nicole Holofcener. Because of all this, there’s a certain brusqueness to the narrative and the characters that some viewers might find off-putting, but that’s also one of this production’s innate beauties in that it serves up an unbridled authenticity not often seen in pictures like this. Even though this release had a brief theatrical run late last summer, it’s largely gone unnoticed. Thankfully, however, it’s now available for streaming online and makes for a frank but refreshing watch compared to many other comparable offerings, one that gives us all a lot to think about.
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Há uma leva de filmes de comédia que tentam retratar a questão de migrantes orientais no Ocidente, como por exemplo "Quiz lady" e "Joy Ride", estes com protagonistas mulheres, mas por alguma razão esse "Shortcomings" foi o que mais me pegou, talvez por eu ser homem e aqui termos um protagonista masculino, mas direi a mim mesmo que é, dos três citados, o que menos faz uso da comédia, misturando com certo drama e muito romance mais realista.
Randall Park demosntra talento em filmar comédia com "Strays", mas talento melhor ao equilibrar a comédia com um drama bem pessoal sobre um homem hétero em busca de si mesmo. Acredito que o filme tenha muito a dizer sobre esse homem que tem personalidade tóxica sim, idiota às vezes (o trato com a namorada mostra isso), mascujo roteiro não precisou imbecializá-lo.
Com toques de Woody Allen mas sem deixar de flaar sobre temas modernos como a questão de imigrantes e das sexualidades dissidentes (sua melhor amiga lésbica como alívio cômico), o filme incorre em alguns lugares comuns, como citações espertas mas muito manjadas de filmes (que estão ali sem necessariamente contribuir de forma mais visceral aos personagens) e uma câmera meio burocrática, mas que não deixa de ser funcional.
No geral temos um ano meio fraco para romances, em "Que horas eu te pego" a Lawrence até tenta, mas o roteiro acaba não desenvolvendo melhor. Entre desilusões tórridas e muito mais intimistas como as mostradas em "Past Lives", parece que o cinema com personagens orientais está mostrando muito mais serviço, entregando experiências interessantes.
Justin H. Min, que faz o nosso protagonista Ben, consegue se sair muito bem com o papel, conhecendo várias mulheres (achei sensacional a passagem de Sasha na vida dele, um microfragmento que funcionou totalmente à proposta) e tendo que lidar com suas inseguranças enquanto macho hétero num mundo onde as mulheres podem escolher outros, podem ter empregos estranhos (a mina roqueira) ou podem mudar de cidade (sua namorada). A heteronormatividade masculina não possui mais o controle de nada, e por isso a fluidez dos corpos incomoda tanto. é como se precisasse de mulheres agindo para que chamemos de "relações líquidas" (neste sentido, Butler engole Bauman, pois sempre foi sobre posicionamento de gênero).
Ao não dar trégua ao protagonista e ao torná-lo mais real do que caricato, o filme engrandece o discurso, sendo feminista sem o ser estridentemente, mas mostrando a diversidade de tipos femininos que orbitam em torno do protagonista, e se tem macho desorientado e perdido ao final, é porque o filme passou a mensagem que queria passar. E ele que lute com seu ****.
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Though it delves into some dark territory, Shortcomings has a light touch and is at times very funny. The hilarious Cola is easily the film’s MVP, but Mizuno and Maki are also quite good. The film’s self-awareness and humor about its protagonist are its greatest assets.
It’s a piercing portrayal of culturally specific nerd rage in Tomine’s comics; on film, it’s a little talky, and could’ve used more Ghost World-style moments of caricature, like that savaging of Crazy Rich Asians at the opening. But while Shortcomings doesn’t turn Ben into a misanthropic hero or excuse his often-terrible behavior, it does stick to the ethos he espouses early in the picture: This is a movie full of people who are flawed, and real.
All of these characters’ supposed “shortcomings” are more often relationship-ending defects. Ironically, this steadfast depiction of noxious people is what makes the movie appealing.
The movie is funny and touching, with a star-making performance by Min and a script full of lovely, self-aware little touches . . . But it’s shot like a sitcom — flat, shiny, perfunctory — and structured like one, too, with quip-heavy vignettes that resolve in pat conclusions.
It’s more like the kind of standard Sundance-bound dramedy we’ve seen lots of times before, albeit with a charming cast and some sharp bits of commentary on race, identity and gender that come courtesy of screenwriter Adrian Tomine, who adapted his 2007 graphic novel of the same title.
The film manages to be engaging, despite a certain lack of focus, but I could work with that. However, the insurmountable obstacle I found, and which unfortunately is the axis on which this story stands, is its main character. The guy is insufferable to the point of obnoxiousness.
Believe me, when you're the one who finds everyone irritating, dude the problem is you. There can never be true new beginnings for individuals who are so self-absorbed and often belittle or dismiss the opinions and feelings of others.
Shortcomings tries to give a lesson about changing, unfortunately it's one that its main character never understands.
Randall Park doesn't tread new ground, nor does he necessarily hint at the inception of a thriving directorial career if he continues down this path, but he does leave the impression that there is room for improvement. We'll see how he does. In the meantime, you can give this movie a chance, just lower your expectations.
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Production Company
Topic Studios,
Imminent Collision,
Picture Films,
Roadside Attractions,
Tango Entertainment (II)
Release Date Aug 4, 2023
Duration 1 h 32 m
Rating R
Tagline The only constant in life is (he won't) change.
Awards
Sundance Film Festival
• 1 Nomination
Hawaii Film Critics Society
• 1 Nomination
GLAAD Media Awards
• 1 Nomination
