THE KEY MAN (2010)

Directed by: Peter Himmelstein
Written by: Peter Himmelstein

The festival seems to be backloaded with the good films.

The Key Man centers on Bobby (Jack Davenport), a once winning insurance salesman who is on his way down the ladder. He meets up with Irving (Brian Cox) and Vincent (Hugo Weaving), two men who, for some reason, need to get a “key man” policy for someone who doesn’t want to do it. They need Bobby to sign for him and give a urine sample.

Of course, they’re conmen and Bobby kind of starts to figure it out…but not until he’s in too deep.

The story is pretty decent, even if it’s based around a pretty big MacGuffin. (Who really cares about the key policy?) The acting, of course, is great. Hugo and Brian can do no wrong.

What is really the star here is the editing. The movie takes place in 1975 and the editing shows it. Like some movies of the time, there are split screens, wipes and all kinds of editorly tricks. By the time we get to a semi-chase scene, the split screen is on steroids and it really makes the scene more tense.