LAKE GEORGE

(director/writer: Jeffrey Reiner; cinematographer: Tod Campbell; editor: Brian Beal; music: Rene G. Boscio; cast: Shea Whigham (Don), Carrie Coon (Phyllis), Max Casella (Harout), Ashley Fink (Nadja), Glenn Fleshler (Armen), Joey Oglesby (Nick), Troy Metcalf (Artie), Derek Phillips (Cory), Keri Safran (Gloria) Runtime: 107; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Jeffrey Reiner, Joey Oglesby, Cleta Elaine Ellington, Bernie Stern; Magnet Releasing; 2024)

“More a black comedy noir than a thriller.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

Jeffrey Reiner (“The Affair”/”Small Time”) returns to making features for the first time since the 1990s. His film is more a black comedy noir than a thriller.

The world-weary, depressed, just out of jail after serving a long-term for insurance fraud, middle-aged Don (Shea Whigham) is broke and living in a motel. He’s trying to collect the money the Hollywood Hills mansion-living L.A. thug Armen (GlennFleshler) owes him for when he worked for him doing insurance frauds. Instead he ends up killing Armen’s former lover, Phyllis (Carrie Coon).

The gist of the film uncovers how this happened. It includes several neat set-pieces.

The pathetic Don owns a small cabin near Lake George, where he hopes he can retire to some day and live out his empty life.

Great performances by Shea Whigham and Carrie Coon make it a sheer delight, especially when the two go on a road trip together.

REVIEWED ON 1/1/2024  GRADE: B
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