The Ticket movie review & film summary (2017) | Roger Ebert

There's a story told several times in Ido Fluk's “The Ticket.” It opens the film and is repeated by its protagonist, James (Dan Stevens, riding ... Reviews TheTicket BrianTallerico April07,2017 Tweet Nowstreamingon: Poweredby JustWatch There’sastorytoldseveraltimesinIdoFluk’s“TheTicket.”Itopensthefilmandisrepeatedbyitsprotagonist,James(DanStevens,ridingahotstreakwithFX’s“Legion”andthesmashhitremakeof“BeautyandtheBeast”).Itgoesroughlylikethis:Amanprayseverydaytowinthelottery.Hedoesthisforyears.Eventually,anangelgoestoGodandsays,“Can’twejustlethimwinfinally?”AndGodsays,“I’dloveto.Buthe’sneverboughtaticket.”Atonepoint,James’friendBob(OliverPlatt)tellsJamesthathedoesn’tgetthestoryhe’sbeentellingoverandoveragain.I’mnotquitesurethemoviegetsthestoryit’stryingtotelleither.It’sjustoneofthosefilmsthatoneisconstantlywishingwouldcoalesceintosomethingtangibleandconcrete,butitkeepsslippingthroughyourfingers.LiketheparablethatJamesarguablydoesn’tunderstand,onewants“TheTicket”tostrikeharder,takemorechances,andsimplybemorememorable. Advertisement Jameswasblindyesterday.Heisnottoday.Hewakesupintheopeningscenesofthefilmstoabright,vibrantworldthathecansee.Hisdoctorshavelittleexplanationastowhyhispituitaryglandhasshrunk,allowinghimtoseeagain.HissupportivewifeSam(MalinAkerman)isunderstandablyflooredbytherevelation—althoughFlukandco-writerSharonMashihidon’tdonearlyenoughtogroundordefinetherelationship.IunderstandthedesiretoopenthefilmonthedaythatJamescansee—itallowsforthecameratoreplicatehisblurryvisioncomingintofocus—butthemoviereliesalotontellingusaboutJames&Sam’srelationshipinsteadofshowingustheirfoundationbeforeJames’newgiftcreatescracksinit.ThefirstcrackcomeswhenJamesnoticesthathissonJonah(SkylarGaertner)hasablackeye.It’sthekindofthinghenotesthatSamwouldn’thavetoldhimaboutandheneverwouldhaveknownaboutabullysituationathisschool.Theimplication,morethanonce,isthatSamhasbeencontrollingJames,andnowshecan’tbeinchargeasmuchassheusedtobe.ThesecondcrackcomeswhenJamesnoticesthatco-workerJessica(KerryBishé)isstunninglybeautiful.AndJessicastartstogrowattractedtoJamesaswellwhenthenewlyconfidentyoungmanbecomesasharkattheoffice.Jamesworksforacompanythatbuysrealestateatcheappricesfrompeopleinapositionwheretheyneedtosell.Andhedevelopsaratherinsidiouswaytobilkpeopleoftheirpropertythat’sbasicallyaconjobinwhichJamesgivesspeechesaboutfinancialadvicethatattempttopushthemtowardselling.So,inrelativelyshortorder,Jamesbecomessuperficial.Ordoeshe?WasJamesalwayskindofanassholeandsightonlymakesthatpartofhispersonalityeasiertofeed?Again,thisisaninterestingangleintothestoryof“TheTicket”that’sleftrelativelyunexplored,partiallybecauseofthestructureofthepiece,butmorebecauseitfeelslikeFluk&MashihiarejusttoohesitanttoreallymakeJamesavillain.Ifyou’regoingtotellthestoryofamanwhotearshisseemingly-goodlifeapartwhenhe’sgivenagiftfromGod,weneedtofeelthejoyofthegiftandthepainofthefall.ThisisessentiallyanIcarustalewithoutthefeelingofflightorthesensationofburning. Advertisement Sowhybotheratall?Well,DanStevensisgonnabesomethingbig.Itwaskindofclearon“DowntonAbbey”and“TheGuest,”buthisworkin“Legion”andthismarkanotherstepupthecareerladder.HeimbuesJameswithlayersofback-storyandsubtextthatkeepthefilmworkinginspiteofitsnarrativethinness.Likehischaracter’sabilitytosellabaddeal,Stevensisoneofthoseactorswhoissocharismaticthattheycansellabadmovie.Oneonlywishestherestofthefilmknewwhattodowithhim. Drama BrianTallerico BrianTallericoistheEditorofRogerEbert.com,andalsocoverstelevision,film,Blu-ray,andvideogames.HeisalsoawriterforVulture,ThePlaylist, TheNewYorkTimes,andRollingStone, andthePresidentoftheChicagoFilmCriticsAssociation. Nowplaying Dog NellMinow StrawberryMansion SheilaO'Malley TheSkyIsEverywhere CiaraWardlow Hellbender BrianTallerico IWantYouBack NickAllen TedK ChristyLemire FilmCredits TheTicket(2017) RatedNR 100minutes Cast DanStevens asJames MalinÅkerman asSam SkylarGaertner asJonah KerryBishé asJessica OliverPlatt asBob PeterMarkKendall asArnoldDixon LizaJ.Bennett asGrace Director IdoFluk Writer IdoFluk SharonMashihi Cinematographer ZackGaller Editor PhillipKimsey Composer DannyBensi SaunderJurriaans Latestblogposts NAACPImageAwardsHonors2022Winners,LedByTheHarderTheyFall about18hours ago BrightWall/DarkRoomFebruary2022:ADownwithLoveGirl,LevelThree!byMerrittMecham about19hours ago TheCostofHeroism:MattReevesonTheBatman about19hours ago GreedisGoodinShowtime'sCompellingSuperPumped:TheBattleforUber 4days ago Advertisement Comments commentspoweredbyDisqus Advertisement Advertisement