A House of Dynamite: A Case Study in Logistics

Last month, Netfix released their new political thriller A House of Dynamite to a limited number of theaters in order to qualify the movie for Award Season.

Last night, I watched the movie on the streamer itself.

I have never been so torn about a movie. When Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert reviewed movies for their self-titled show at PBS, it was simple, either thumbs up or thumbs down.

A House of Dynamite was more complicated than that.

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In the history of movie-making A House of Dynamite may have been the most thoroughly written when it comes to logistics.

The story line was divided into three perspectives which clearly, and unequivocally, answered the question: What would happen if an unknown foreign combatant fired a lone intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the United States?

But as the movie pulsated from high tension to quiet lulls, I couldn't help but think that, maybe, A House of Dynamite might have made a better book. If Tom Clancy was alive and had a crack at it, it might have been a # 1 best seller.

Listen, I don't want to give up too much of the plot, but I couldn't shake the feeling that a documentary might have even been a better angle. Though meticulously researched and presented, I didn't feel entertained. The ending of the movie was supposed to make me think? I don't like to think.

I asked a trusted friend if he liked the movie and he complained that the Angel Reese thread was a bit woke-y. He also said that the movie was heavy-handed and agenda driven, made to win awards and preach over-arching talking points.

Man, I didn't get that from the movie at all. It was just a bit....

Dry?

Wooden?

I mean, if Netflix's goal was Best Original Screenplay, is that a prestigious award?

I reviewed the last 10 winners of Best Original Screenplay and recognized 2 movies. Not watched 2 movies, simply recognized that they existed. Only 2022's Everything, Everywhere All at Once made it to my TV screen for my eyeballs.

As I was doing the final edit of this review, I noticed that Noah Oppenheim won the Special Achievement in Screenwriting Award at the Middleburg Film Festival for the film.

Uh, I have no idea whatsoever if that's good or not.

What review captured the zeitgeist of what I'm trying to convey? From Lyle's Movie Files:

"Undoubtedly the best film with the worst ending in many years. In fairness, to have the worst ending, A House of Dynamite would actually need to commit to a conclusion."

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