What I’m watching: Ambitious arthouse, artless AppleTV+

Date: 5/1/2023

New to Theaters: “How to Blow Up a Pipeline”

When frustrations build to a collective breaking point, an ensemble of environmental activists embark on a radical plan to create systemic change by destroying fossil fuel infrastructure in “How to Blow Up a Pipeline.”

Crafting a thriller embedded in the growing angst around our planet’s decaying ecosystem is a timely approach from writer/director Daniel Goldhaber. Goldhaber is quickly establishing himself as an intriguing voice in the industry with his socially conscious projects. His first film, 2018’s “CAM,” utilized a similar genre movie pastiche to examine the callous gaze facing many adult performers. For me, the film struggled to formulate its worthy ideas into a compelling experience, although it still radiated promise as an ambitious directorial debut.

In “How to Blow Up a Pipeline,” Goldhaber elevates his craft to new heights. The film conveys compassion and urgency in its pulse-pounding depiction of an essential conversation.

“Pipeline” seeks out a challenging high wire balancing act. How can the cast and filmmaking team richly develop a crowded roster of characters and a comprehensive thesis without descending into sanctimonious rhetoric? Additionally, how will the creative team create a film focused on highly controversial subject matter (the FBI has actually issued a warning about the film)? I would say Goldhaber excels in one of these facets while registering mixed results in the other.

As an ensemble piece, “Pipeline” establishes rich textures within its compact 100-minute runtime. Goldhaber’s screenplay intermixes real-time narrative and anthology-esque backstory in creating his compelling collage of characters. This risky choice thankfully forms a well-calibrated equilibrium – a perfect harmony where intimate revelations from the past establish pressing motivations for each figure in the environmental crusade.

I appreciate the film’s ability to define nuanced perspectives for most of its characters. Xochitl and Shawn are eager yet emotionally burned-out college students seeking tangible change outside of typical petitions and rallies. Burdened by a fatal diagnosis tied to toxic environmental conditions, Theo sees destroying the pipeline as a necessary measure of revenge, with her loving girlfriend Alisha attending in support despite her reticence towards the mission. Texas resident Dwayne and Native American Michael experience the expansion of fossil fuels firsthand as corporations impede on their land. Then there is the wanderlust couple of Logan and Rowan, a duo who expel manic energy in their pursuit of a cause worth fighting for. I give the cast significant praise for instilling life into each of their characters’ dilemmas. Ariela Barer as Xochitl and Sasha Lane as Theo are particular standouts as lifelong friends looking to make a difference despite their bleak futures.

These varied viewpoints reflect not only discontentment towards society’s sluggish response to climate change, but also a grander generational snapshot. In a world where many 20-somethings like myself suffer from waning optimism amidst a slew of unavoidable issues, such as exorbitant costs, a deflating economic market and a general lack of attention toward several societal quandaries, it’s easy to feel hopeless. I found “How to Blow Up a Pipeline” most impactful in how the film observes disenfranchised figures embracing radicalism as the only solution to communicate their long-ignored cries for help.

Within these worthwhile ideas, “How to Blow Up a Pipeline” still excels as a compelling thriller. Goldhaber and cinematographer Tehillah De Castro showcase exacting precision throughout the film’s slow-burn approach. The duo’s ambient stillness behind the camera creates an intoxicating unease in each step of the planning process, slowly building a palpable momentum that kept me anxiously suspended at the edge of my seat. I can’t say enough how refreshing it is to watch a thriller devoid of gimmicks. Goldhaber displays poise by relying on his material strengths rather than pandering for cheap thrills.

For as much as I enjoyed “How to Blow Up a Pipeline,” the film sadly trips over itself during its lackluster final act. The ensemble’s effort to destroy fossil fuel infrastructure is an act of domestic terrorism, which they even discuss at one point during a conversation in the film. Lending a sympathetic lens to people pursuing unlawful measures as an instrument for positive change welcomes some fascinating complexities, but the final act undermines the moral ambiguity of these actions by spelling out a clean and frankly highly improbable conclusion. It’s frustrating that Goldhaber articulates what he thinks audiences should take away from the experience instead of trusting viewers to draw their own conclusions.

An underwhelming end still does not rob “How to Blow Up a Pipeline” of its impact. Goldhaber and his team create an arresting thriller overflowing with thoughtful takeaways.

New to Streaming: “Ghosted” on AppleTV+

Farmer Cole believes he found the love of his life after a romantic meet-cute with the enigmatic Sadie. When embarking on a cross-continent trip to surprise her, Cole is in for a shock when he discovers Sadie is a world-class super spy in AppleTV+’s latest project, “Ghosted.”

A globetrotting caper featuring the talents of Chris Evans and Ana de Armas seems like a good gamble on paper. Like every streaming service, AppleTV+ continues its diligent focus on distinguishing a unique brand amidst a crowded marketplace. So far, they have struck gold in their efforts. AppleTV+’s focus on quality over quantity allows the streaming service to curate a boutique of projects with more creative vigor than its competitors. Engrossing TV shows, such as “Ted Lasso,” “Servant” and “After Party,” have quickly developed into fan favorites. At the same time, their film empire has already garnered a coveted Best Picture Oscar with the 2021 release, “CODA.”

Despite their past successes, “Ghosted” lands as AppleTV+’s most uninspired project to date. This listless and charm-free endeavor resonates as a tired retread of far superior films.

“Ghosted,” like many other straight-to-streaming efforts, barely even registers as a real movie. There is a clear narrative hook that boasts promise, a sizable enough budget to indulge in blockbuster spectacle and the dynamic talents of an assured cast. While these elements may seem like a sturdy foundation, “Ghosted” executes each facet with oppressive banality. The film feels like a tired exercise that no one involved truly cares about. I credit the filmmaking team for collecting an easy paycheck here, but they all unfortunately waste two hours of viewers’ time in the process.

The lack of enthusiasm is apparent from jump street. Focusing on an odd couple thrust on a mission with world-altering stakes is a familiar yet reliable enough source for easy-going entertainment (“Knight and Day” and “Spy” successfully utilized a similar premise). In the hands of director Dexter Fletcher, “Ghosted” struggles to achieve any semblance of creative competency. Fletcher’s film dawns the look of a standard-issue TV sitcom, capturing loud action setpieces and subdued conversations with the same lack of energy. It is hard even to fathom how a $90 million movie of this scale could look so cheap and uninteresting.

The screenwriting team of Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick also flounder in capturing the premise’s potential. Both writers infuse little energy into their efforts, creating a tired narrative bolstered by formulaic cliches and half-baked plot MacGuffins. Flatlining attempts at conjuring some semblance of humor fall significantly by the wayside, while an inattentive eye toward character-building leaves each role feeling like an empty husk begging for more personality.

Not even the cast can mend the screenplay’s broken qualities. Evans and de Armas exude personality and presence with almost every role they embody, which makes their ineffectiveness here a particular shock. Neither actor appears on the same wavelength of chemistry, tossing out goofy one-liners and overwrought romantic platitudes without genuine conviction. I have a hard time recalling a romantic pair onscreen that has felt this distant from one another. Still, it’s hard to blame them exclusively when they are stuck propping up a sinking ship of a movie. Adrien Brody, Tim Blake Nelson and a slew of star-studded cameos are similarly wasted throughout the runtime.

My advice for viewers is simple; you should ghost “Ghosted.” The tedious offering joins a lengthy list of straight-to-streaming films that come off as bargain bin rip-offs for their big-screen counterparts.