The Lobster
Animal lust...
Greek director Yorgo Lanthimos’ deadpan surrealism and blackly comic absurdism are perfectly engineered to make laughs choke in throats. Best known for the Oscar-nommed Dogtooth, he here attracts a stellar cast for his English-language debut, a low-key, dystopian sci-fi in which singletons are corralled into a hotel on the coast of Ireland and given 45 days to find true love or else be turned into an animal of their choice.
Widower David (a pot-bellied, droop-mouthed Colin Farrell with a sad-sack moustache) wishes to be a lobster because they live long and he loves the sea. But first he must quest for romance in this strictly managed, soulless environment, forced by the hotel’s stern manager (Olivia Colman) to throw himself into automated interaction with fellow residents (including John C. Reilly, Ben Whishaw and Ashley Jensen)… at least until he eyes a chance of escape.
Narrated by ‘Short Sighted Woman’ (Rachel Weisz), a loner who lives in the forest with a breakaway faction of fundamentalist singletons, The Lobster is a deliciously off-kilter satire on the Tinder-era dating game, and the pressure that society puts on individuals to pair up. Its opening hour, set in the corporate-hell hotel, is cerebral and coolly composed, as funny as it is sad. Only by cleaving to the norm can happiness be found is the fervent worldview, and would-be suitors are encouraged to find common traits and interests – surely Lanthimos skewering the narcissism that’s often inherent in ‘giving’ yourself to another.
What a shame, then, that focus dissipates in the latter stages, with The Lobster struggling for ideas once it leaves the pressure-cooker environment of the hotel. We’ve already seen enough to tickle us and haunt us for months to come, but the loss of direction will leave viewers flailing like the dinner guests in Bunuel’s The Discreet Charm Of The Bourgeoisie (a big influence)… promised a feast that is ultimately withheld. THE VERDICT A spot-on cringe-com dating satire that looks like a sure thing to be one of the films of 2015 but fails to go all the way. › Certificate 15 Director Yorgos Lanthimos Starring Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, John C. Reilly, Ben Whishaw, Olivia Colman Screenplay Yorgos Lanthimos Distributor Picturehouse Entertainment Running time 118 mins