I’ve watched a disappointing amount of mediocre titles this year being pushed out magicallly with audio description, despite several titles that gained some acclaim and theatrical release still not making room for accessibility.Thus, we must now discuss Fog of War, because there’s audio description available for this title. I’m so glad that the critically acclaimed Eephus couldn’t find audio description, or The Ugly Stepsister, but we’ve got audio description on this WWII paranoia epic.
Jake Abel plays a man who returns from war, and is sent on a mission to accompany his new wife (Brianna Hildebrand) to her parents estate where someone in these neck of the woods is suspected of being a nazi. could it be the German man who seems to be taking care of the place? Or, perhaps it is Academy Award Winner Mira Sorvino and John Cusack as the parents. I mean, who is really to say. Major stars with curiously limited screentime, or an exploration on some version of xenophobia where just because someone has an accent inherently makes them the prime suspect.
This is not a good movie. it isn’t terrible, it just isn’t good. Cusack and Sorvino are wasted, Abel is OK, and I was impressed with hildebrand shoeing some range beyond her role in the Deadpool franchise. The plot is slow, and pushes frequently into the idea that perhaps Abel’s veteran is losing his own grip with reality. the script needed some Jesus though. Not only is the ending a mess, but we also get sequences like the one where Abel gets up in the middle of the night to spy on the lone German, who is mysteriously typing into his own telegram system in his room. Son of a bitch must be using coded messaging. But, Abel makes a noise that gives away his location, and when the guy gets up to find him, Abel abandons his walking cane right outside the door, and hides in a corner until the guy passes by and he can shuffle back to his room. he grabs his cane, hops into bed, and pretends to be asleep.
So, we’re supposed to accept that the guy just gave up? Didn’t see the cane right outside his door? Bought the fake sleeping of Abel? There are only three people in this house, and one who seems uniquely positioned to spy.
That is just one main issue. the rest are all an amalgamation.
The audio description is fine. It is kind of flat, but the film is flat. I’m sure at some point, this film felt exciting to someone, though I think really Jake Abel is just excited to be a lead, and the others got paid.
There are better movies that toy around with the concept of “who can you trust?” Better than this.
Rotten: Final Grade: C-, Audio Description: B
