Look, I'll be blunt: most of the first fifteen minutes are wholly unnecessary in the first place, and for the fact that we're treated to them, it's an inauspicious start to the movie as we get a taste of what to expect. The production values are so glaring as to be almost painful to behold, the dialogue is outright wretched, the characters are hugely unlikable, and if the protagonist's big hit song is really his claim to fame, then it's no wonder he's faded into obscurity. One can only desperately hope 'The muse' will improve from that weak beginning - but for as dubious as the scene writing is also, eliciting reactions of aggravated skepticism and deep reservations, the kindest thing to say is that it's going to be an uphill battle.
A little less than halfway through the runtime the plot does pick up a little bit. Those flaws don't go away, though, and more become evident. The cinematography, editing, and sound design come across much the same as the overall production values. "Blunt" and "heavy-handed" may be the best words with which to describe the picture, in fact, as there's an emphatic paucity of nuance at any time. This absolutely applies as well to the acting from all on hand. In fairness, it's clear 'The muse' is a rather low-budget production, and one can't fault a person for trying to make a movie even if they lack the best means or capability to do so. Even in the spirit of greatest generosity, however, this doesn't alter the fact that the viewing experience is direly trying on one's patience.
I like the story in the broad strokes; there are good ideas here. But the feature is so irritatingly bereft of tact as to almost completely subsume what value it could boast. We're supposed to recognize a change in protagonist Addison, for example, but the character is so tiredly, boorishly one-note that the change is all but imperceptible. Inexperience or meager resources can hardly account for every deficiency. And speaking of one-note, even in moments of violence the feature never wavers from the same lackadaisical tone. I hope Rufus Chaffee has grown as a filmmaker in the years since making this, and I wish him only the best, yet as it stands 'The muse' comes all too close to being unwatchable in its dullness and inelegance.
I hope other folks get more out of this than I did. For my part, I just can't recommend it.
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