'Beast' star Dan Stevens dominates stylish morality tale 'The Ticket'
“Beauty and the Beast” star Dan Stevens (he plays the Beast) supplies Ido Fluk's problematic, but courageously experimental morality play “The Ticket” with one of the year's most authentic, detailed screen performances.
The British actor (best known as Matthew Crawley on “Downton Abbey”) plays James, a blind man who inexplicably gains his sight.
Stevens first plays him as a dull-eyed, frumpy guy with a bad haircut, cheap clothes, poor posture and demure personality.
Once James can see, Stevens begins to radiate a spiritual glow. He notices how he looks and moves. His eyes turn into blue laser beams focused so intensely that they almost crack Zachary Galler's camera lens.
An early scene in which Stevens registers his growing awareness of his vision is captivating cinema, intensified by Fluk's shrewd choice to shoot the opening from James' point of view. We hear voices, but only see smears of light on a background of blackness.
“The Ticket,” something like “Flowers for Algernon” in construction, shows how new sight brings changes, and many turn expectedly dark.
The miracle redefines James' relationship with his young son (Skylar Gaertner) and his dutiful wife Sam (Malin Akerman, struggling to appear plain) used to being in control of their relationship.
At his telemarketing job, James becomes aggressive, shady and successful, earning big money and the attentions of an attractive, redheaded co-worker, Jessica (Kerry Bishe), who would normally ignore him.
James' co-worker Bob (Oliver Platt) provides the story's conscience. Despite being blind himself, Bob sees exactly how his friend is being corrupted by the superficial appeal of the visual world.
Accompanied by an odd score that frequently drifts into vintage “Twilight Zone” territory, “The Ticket” avoids the sentimental turns and crowd-pleaser moments that might have made this movie a box office hit.
Instead, Fluk, an Israeli-born, New York based director, supplies “The Ticket” with moments of art-house poetry, employing vibrant visuals and augmented ambient sound to capture moods and feelings, including a restrained, yet erotic encounter between James and Jessica.
“The Ticket” ends abruptly, coldly and realistically, leaving us with disappointment that the subject matter didn't match the rich depth of its style.
In the best ways possible, Stevens dominates this drama with an overwhelming lead performance gracing an underwhelming dramatic experience.
“The Ticket”
★ ★ ½
Starring: Dan Stevens, Malin Akerman, Oliver Platt, Kerry Bishe
Directed by: Ido Fluk
Other: A Shout! Factory Films release. Not rated; suitable for mature audiences. 98 minutes