ASSASSINATION OF A HIGH SCHOOL PRESIDENT (E1, 2008) D: Brett Simon, w/ Reece Daniel Thompson, Mischa Barton. Rating: NNN DVD package: NN Rating: NNN
Slightly nerdy high school sophomore (Reece Daniel Thompson) gets assigned to write a profile of the school president and implicates him in the theft of SAT tests. Comedy and mystery ensue.
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Sadly, the laughs and noirish sleuthing don’t gel, and the plot has more holes in it than the Albert Hall.
On the plus side, Bruce Willis is very funny as the gung-ho principal, the story takes some unusual turns, and director Brett Simon achieves his prime intention (according to one of the few interesting remarks he makes on his jokey commentary): an original vision of high school as a creepy prison, with odd revelations lurking in the corners.
This isn’t the first film noir set in a contemporary high school. Check out Brick – it’s brilliant.
EXTRAS Director and writers commentary, deleted scenes with optional commentary. Widescreen. English, French audio. English subtitles.
