BrightArts & CultureFilm & TVFilm Review

‘The Listener’: Help Hotline Drama Cuts to the Bone

Tessa Thompson shines in director Buscemi’s chamber piece.
Save
‘The Listener’: Help Hotline Drama Cuts to the Bone
Tessa Thompson as Beth, a help-line operator, in "The Listener." Vertical Entertainment
Michael Clark
Updated:
0:00

NR | 1h 36m | Drama | 2024

Movies featuring a single on-screen performer for their duration is the cinematic equivalent of a high-wire act working without a safety net. If it succeeds, it’s beyond impressive; if it fails, it’s viewed as a poorly executed gimmick.

Michael Clark
Michael Clark
Author
Originally from the nation's capital, Michael Clark has provided film content to over 30 print and online media outlets. He co-founded the Atlanta Film Critics Circle in 2017 and is a weekly contributor to the Shannon Burke Show on FloridaManRadio.com. Since 1995, Clark has written over 5,000 movie reviews and film-related articles. He favors dark comedy, thrillers, and documentaries.