Predicament (2010)

Coming of age crime comedy set in 1930's New Zealand. Adaptation of the Ronald Hugh Morrieson novel.

Director:

Jason Stutter

Writers:

Ronald Hugh Morrieson (novel), Jason Stutter (screenplay)

Stars:

Jemaine Clement, Heath Franklin, Hayden Frost

6 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Jemaine Clement	...	Spook
Heath Franklin	...	Mervyn Toebeck
Hayden Frost	...	Cedric Williamson
Tim Finn	...	Martin Williamson
Rose McIver	...	Maybelle
Edward Newborn	...	Detective Huggins
David Van Horn	...	Officer Dawson
Chad Mills	...	Blair Bramwell
Brooke Williams	...	Margot Bramwell
Peter Mochrie	...	Vernon Bramwell
Carmel McGlone	...	Rita Zombroni
Hadleigh Walker	...	Ernie Fox
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Fletcher	...	Winker Sanderson
Tina Grenville-Cagwin	...	Granny Williamson
Dennis Hally	...	Constable #1

Storyline

Naïve teenager Cedric Williamson, conspires with two misfits to photograph and blackmail adulterous couples. When the scam goes wrong they end up with blood on their hands. Tortured by lust, roped into blackmail and possibly an accessory to murder, Cedric is in a predicament.

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Plot Keywords:

sex | blackmail | photography

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Taglines:

Three misfits. One murder.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

New Zealand

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 August 2010 (New Zealand)

Filming Locations:

Eltham, New Zealand

Company Credits

Production Co:

Midnight Film Productions Limited

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

User Reviews

Disappointing

Saw this last night and it was a massive disappointment. First of I wanted to say that I think Stutter is a talented director, in terms of his visual skills - as the art direction and camera work was first rate. However the story, and casting was a major let down and left a lot to be desired. Like any young director Stutter needed to hit some what of a home run, to get another chance at bat - but after seeing this film I think that he'd struggle. It's been just over a week now since it's release and it's almost finished it theatrical run in Auckland. Which is another way of saying, this is a major box office flop - anyone who says otherwise is in dreamland.

The choice of story, just struck me as weird. Why as a young director would you choose an obscure local novel, set decades ago as the basis of your first flick? Surely he could have found something more relevant. Clement had some moments, but the other two leads weren't strong enough to carry the story. Overall I thought it wasn't funny enough to be comedy, and not interesting enough to work as a crime drama.