Maggie Moore(s) (2023)

Maggie Moore(s) (2023)

An endearing cast can’t save this forgettable true-crime thriller

6.5

Movie

United States of America
English
Comedy, Crime, Mystery
2023
JOHN SLATTERY
Allison Dunbar, Bryant Carroll, Christopher Denham
99 min

TL;DR

You’re better off watching an episode of Fargo.

What it's about

Based on true events, the film follows Police Chief Sanders as he investigates the consecutive murders of two women, both incidentally named Maggie Moore, in a small town in New Mexico.

The take

This a small-town, true-crime thriller that has John Hamm (Mad Men) as the detective, Nick Mohammed (Ted Lasso) as the trusty sidekick, and Tina Fey (30 Rock) as the love interest. They’re a charismatic cast helming a bizarro story whose real-life details are already teeming with juicy details, and yet, the resulting film, directed by John Slattery, is as lackluster and forgettable as can be. There is no sense of mystery, the jokes fall flat, and every scene looks like it’s shot from a studio lot. There is plenty of better fare out there for anyone looking for comedy capers, and I bet the true crime documentary of the real-life Maggie Moore case is infinitely more engaging than its filmic counterpart. 

What stands out

The potential of Maggie Moore(s)—what it could have been with a sharper script and steadier direction. More than anything, you’ll be thinking about the better version of the movie while watching it. It already has a charming cast and a wacky story in place, all it needed was a stronger push to guide it to fulfillment. Now don’t get me wrong, Slattery is a talented man; an immediately delightful presence in any production he’s in. But if only he was as good at directing as he was at acting, then Maggie Moore(s) could’ve been a brilliant gem on par with the Coen Brothers’ Fargo, or more recently, Rian Johnson’s Poker Face. As it is, Slattery will need more polishing before even getting close to that level.

Comments

Add a comment

What did you think? Who should watch it?

UP NEXT 

UP NEXT 

UP NEXT 

More like this in

The Machine (2023)

An unfunny comedy that overestimates the relevance of its star

5.0

How to Deal with a Heartbreak (2023)

An unremarkable story about one girl’s journey towards love, success, and happiness

5.0

The Guilty (2018)

A minimalist, razor-sharp thriller that will have you gasping for air.

9.0

Bottle Rocket (1996)

Wes Anderson’s debut might lack the meticulous visual style he's synonymous with, but it's full of the charm and understated emotion we love him for

7.8

Smoke (1995)

A gorgeous indie gem whose every note is worth inhaling

8.7

The Initiated (2023)

A Colombian neo-noir mystery that makes up for its narrative shortcuts with an intoxicating atmosphere.

7.1

Wind River (2017)

Sicario's screenwriter directs this story of murder in an Indigenous reserve

9.4

Sentinelle (2023)

A stupidly funny spoof that could use a little more commitment and heart

6.6

The Farewell (2019)

Awkwafina shines in this complex culture clash comedy.

9.1

Jaane Jaan (2023)

A Hindi thriller that keeps the suspense of Japanese novel

7.6

Curated by humans, not algorithms.

agmtw logo

© 2023 agoodmovietowatch, all rights reserved.