B.J. Novak’s directorial debut is an impressive work. The actor who charmed audiences on The Office has crafted a smart and satisfying satire. The story revolves around a radio host who decides to follow up on a strange phone call. When a girl he casually knew passes away, her family is convinced that the host is the boyfriend that she was in love with. Vengeance is an excellent satire, one that features terrific performances from Novak, Issa Rae, and J. Smith Cameron. As well, Boyd Holbrook is fantastic as the brother desperate to go after those responsible for his sister’s demise. This is an original and engaging feature, one that is well worth seeing. It also highlights a strong performance from Ashton Kutcher.
Recently, I had an incredible time speaking to both Mr. Novak and Mr. Holbrook. I’ve always appreciated B.J. Novak, but my respect for him after this has grown. He opened up about taking on this subject matter and creating a very real world in which they live. What was especially fun is how the interview begins when he noticed the Fight Club poster hanging behind me in the Zoom chat. B.J. is incredibly talented, and while this may be the first feature film he’s taken on, it’s an incredibly inventive one and I cannot wait to see what’s next from him.
Next up, we spoke to Boyd Holbrook. Not only am I a huge fan of his work, but I’ve also had the pleasure of speaking with him a few times before. Mr. Holbrook opened up about creating the character of Ty Shaw, and what it was like stepping into this world with his director. We’ve seen Boyd play a variety of roles, and this is yet another compelling show from the actor. And what does he have coming up? He was excited to mention some of his upcoming work in Indiana Jones 5 and The Sandman. We’re going to be seeing some amazing new movies from Boyd Holbrook, and I’m looking forward to it. And speaking seeing his work, Mr. Novak’s Vengeance opens today and it is one to seek out.