3.9 Windfall

Written by Andrew Kevin Walker and later directed by Charlie McDowell, Windfall is a 2022 American thriller, starring just Jason Segel, Lily Collins and Jesse Plemons. This small, self-contained Netflix thriller actively had many, myself included potently excited for what might lye in store, as a tech-billionaire home invasion goes wrong. Although Windfall is arguably or hardly a cinematic masterpiece, however what it might come to lack in cinematic riches, it all but earns back through it's simplistic yet quality cast. With such casting feeling rather complimentary to Windfall's unique and tasteful sense, preventing this satisfying thriller from going ever creatively deplorable. Often slow and at times rather lethargic in it's execution, Windfall patiently looks to use such smaller details to the films narrative advantage, keeping audiences rather remote and secluded when in terms of it's deeper meanings. While it's written and somewhat comedic action feels somewhat a home in such tasteful style. As this often intriguing crime thriller continues to extend the boundaries for what such a style of filmmaking can achieve. For some this talkative, stimulating thriller, will leave you all but wanting to know more about it's character by the time of the rolling credits. Although for many others such potential might feel slightly wasted and rather misused, as Windfall might struggle to truthfully distinguish and discover itself.

While this intriguing set-up continues and gradually builds to feeling rather more captivating and deeply thoughtful. A trait seemingly only ever enhanced by it's cast and insightful yet still at times boring writing. With this slow yet meticulous and seemingly thoughtful pacing developing into a noteworthy watch, accustom and fitting to the indie-thriller atmosphere of it's nature. While such pacing and subject matter is seemingly perfectly handled and enhanced when it comes to the craftsmanship of it's protagonists. As such performances by Segel, Plemons and Collins alike were expertly and meticulously handled with such care and attention befitting to the piece itself. With them seemingly able to be elegantly portray and understand the narratives deeper meanings and mysterious, with audiences kept often in the dark for what they assume to be something greater at play. As such potent turmoil and emotional feelings are seemingly only even enhanced by the portrayals themselves. While audiences search and crave such secrets that can elevate it past it's dynamic centre, as often the answers seems to lye in the smallest of details, within what our characters choose to enclose and convey. With Windfall gradually becoming more apparent once audiences are able to appreciate this deeply thoughtful yet still at times seclude character-driven narrative.

For many other such genres or styles of films, would lack any particular motive or potential for audiences to continue. However what for many will keep audience's intrigued and watching will be the answers Windfall gradually poses and craves to portray. From my own personal perspective such a thoughtful and seemingly anchored narrative only ever seems to reaps such potent rewards when focusing on it's particular yet personal characterization. While this seemingly thoughtful character driven narrative gradually, like the film itself, only ever seemingly unravelling through it's gradual focus and homing in on it's deeply meaningful characters and protagonists. While still simultaneously never choosing to deliberately reveal to much, to keep audiences at a safe yet still captivating distance from it's main protagonists. Even to such an extent it's characters are never truly named ensuring that still the films true motives are never truly revealed. Although this tasteful yet moderate style of characterization might lack some much needed pace for many, as the films gradual narrative progresses it becomes all but apparent that there's much more to it than originally meets the eye.

As Windfall constantly and continually posses and asks it's audiences to read between the lines, into what it's characters, narrative and story might be trying to truthfully communicate. As rather instead such a task seemingly can only ever build such expectations that feel equally satisfying as there were probably wrong by the time the credits roll. While the films dry yet witty humor coats the film with some contrasting yet thankful differences, that seemingly only ever adds to what this tasteful picture has to offer. As such humour primarily a credit to Plemons is self built, arrogant billionaire himself, adds yet another tasteful layer to this films elegant yet isolated tone. As such a potent yet secluded narrative feels from a personal perspective rather quite pleasingly fulfilled, although still for most, many will look to crave such clear answers. Until audiences are able to truly understand that was never the films aim. As if such a style and characterization was never truly meant to unearth the truth, leaving it mostly up to audiences to devise there own personal opinions.

With this most evidently the reason for such a disheartened and negative reception, as amongst most critics and audiences alike seemingly share such views. However amongst my personal viewing I wasn't at all sympathetic or undertaken by such similar views. While I'm still not at all lost for why such views exist, I was left rather more intrigued to why the bulk of the masses found this experience to one worthy of a mediocre rating. As it left posing the question if viewers were able to truthfully appreciate, let alone acknowledge the films meticulous and meaningful craftsmanship. With the film impressively and rather uniquely devised when in terms of both it's style and conflicting restrictions, apparent to the times. As such solid and controlled directing felt rather complimentary and perfectly paired, keeping it's story continuously interesting and enthralling. Whilst most noteworthy to my surprise was it's score by Danny Bensi & Saunder Jurriaans, which often acted as a crucial yet exceptional standout amongst it's at times conflicting and secluded narrative. As such a crucial piece of this puzzle seemingly only ever captivates and intensely punctuates and elevates every scene it populates. While such controlled and thoughtful directing treats us to a dark yet twisted climax that feels rather fitting to not what we already have come to know by to what might truly and deeply lye within Lily Collin's character. Whereas still some of my personal issues have come to lye within the films at times conflicted and preachy dialogue, that can at times seem to be to hand-handled. With it occasionally pushing and trying to hard to communicate such messages to it's audience, as I was mostly left feeling yet understanding still that although Windfall isn't as conventionally funny or thrilling as most would of liked it to be. Such a slower-burn route for it's subject matter was a befitting and rewarding path to take, with it having some pretty intriguing and significant merit to offer. That most will probably come to overlook, in it's already established pre-conception. While Windfall constantly poses and dictates audiences to search for there own answers, when in it comes to what the film has to truthfully offer. Making for a more personal yet still riveting watch. 3.5/5 Stars