Compliance

August 30, 2012 at 3:45 pm | Posted in 2012 | Leave a comment
Tags: Compliance, Movie Review

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Yikes.  I can’t remember the last time I felt this uncomfortable in a movie.  I was on edge the whole time and left the theater with a knot in my stomach.  I realize this is not a selling point for most of you but if you like a film that will make you think, more than any other film this year, this is it.  A McDonald’s store manager in Mount Washington, Kentucky in 2004 received a phone call from a man identifying himself as a police officer and saying that one of her employees was accused of stealing.  He had her bring the female employee into the backroom to detain her until he arrived.  He then slowly made increasingly more provocative demands.  With the exception of changing the names of the restaurant and the people, this film is scene for scene almost identical to what actually happened in that incident.  I am well versed on the Milgram experiments but was stunned at what he was able to get that manager, accused employee, and several other people to go along with.  The stark soundtrack, claustrophobic/close-up cinematography and beautifully natural acting (especially by Ann Dowd as the store manager) all added to the intensity.  This should launch Ms. Dowd’s career; she has done mostly bit parts until now.  I will be watching for director/writer/producer Craig Zobel in the future, as well.