Film Illiterate, wherein the proprietor records movies seen, and sporadic progress through assorted lists of the "best". Originally started after regretfully renting something forgettable for the third time. I've forgotten what, but never again! A tedious endeavour since 2005. Hello. 🙂
It's about time I learned to stop trusting Netflix's awful star ratings; at time of writing, it's about 4.8/5 stars vs. 3.8/10 at IMDb. It's billed as a black comedy, but it's more accurate to say that it's darkly satirical -- the latter not implying laughs. Nick Cooper (Connor Lawrence) attempts to join a prestigious fraternity; they're wealthy scions who see women as sport, little knowing that their affiliated sorority is eager to play the same game, seeing sex as a means of control.
Nick is persuaded to masquerade as the heir to the Cooper Tyre fortune and abandon his morals, losing everything in the process.
I would normally avoid spoilers but this is not a movie which deserves to be seen. Performances are fine, though various flavours of smarmy douche are not particularly demanding. It's shot without artistry, and crucially fails to reflect any of the energy that ought to make the frat lifestyle appealing; even I've been to parties more exciting than anything on display and I like to be home before 11pm.
The critical problem is the story. It feels like a short film padded out to feature length, produced by creators so young and sheltered that they think Nick's ungraceful descent from nice guy to asshole is in any way interesting. The worst sort of indie garbage.