The Rake's Progress
The Rake's Progress

Movie spotlight

The Rake's Progress

2011
Movie
140 min
English

The devil is hard at work in Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress! The three-act opera was premiered at Venice’s La Fenice in 1951 and is whimsically staged and performed in this production from the 2010 Glyndebourne opera festival.

Insights

IMDb7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes72%
Metacritic65/100
Google Users78%
Director: Rian JohnsonGenres: Comedy, Drama, Crime

Plot Summary

A shy, unassuming pharmaceutical salesman, John "Johnny" Malone, lives a mundane existence. His life takes a dramatic turn when he becomes entangled in a bizarre criminal underworld involving an eccentric hitman and a mysterious woman. As Johnny navigates this dangerous new reality, he must confront his own desires and insecurities, leading to unexpected and life-altering consequences.

Critical Reception

The Rake's Progress received polarized reviews, praised for its unique blend of dark humor and thoughtful character development, but criticized by some for its occasionally convoluted plot and uneven pacing.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its witty dialogue and sharp performances, particularly from the lead cast.

  • Appreciated for its bold stylistic choices and unconventional narrative structure.

  • Some critics found the plot a bit too dense and the tonal shifts jarring.

Google audience: Audiences generally enjoyed the film's dark humor and the chemistry between the main actors. Many found it to be a refreshing and original take on the crime-comedy genre, though a segment of viewers felt the story was overly complicated.

Fun Fact

The film's original title was 'Looper', but it was changed to avoid confusion with the 2012 film of the same name, which also stars Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

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