A Hologram for the King
Dustin Chase
As unusual as the title, writer/director Tom Tykwer is known for his unconventional films. Run Lola Run, Heaven and Cloud Atlas to name a few of the more mainstream. With that being said A Hologram for the King is by leaps and bounds his most accessible film for a wide audience. It isn’t without unique and counter intuitive structure, a refreshing departure from predictable American and European productions. A Hologram for the King is also the best work we have seen from Tom Hanks since Road to Perdition. The two time Oscar winner plays something completely different here, he can’t phone this one in and he doesn’t just get carried along with a great concept like Captain Phillips. The viewer is never quite sure where the plot is taking us but it’s the many detours that make it so compelling.
Alan Clay (Hanks) works for an advanced technology company out of Boston offering the latest in hologram projection targeting large international business markets. Clay is one of the leading sales representatives, coming to the company from his years of work with Schwinn. For the first time he is sent to Saudi Arabia to close a deal with the king. Alan’s personal, professional and financial situation has him in a state of anxiety, not to mention a large lump growing on his back. The jet lag along with less than favorable conditions outside The Kings Metropolis of Economic Trade (KMET) finally push the passive salesman over the edge. He finds friendship in Yousef (Black) who drives him to and from the hotel and solace in the doctor (Choudhury) treating his medical issue. It’s in a foreign country, surrounded by sand and blue water that a divorced salesman from Boston finds purpose in his idle existence.
It’s a satisfying drama filled with humor and catharsis that never goes exactly where you might expect.
You wouldn’t expect the editor from 10,000 BC or Jupiter Ascending to have such an impact on a drama with no action sequences. Alexander Berner’s quick cuts and sharp editing not only liven up a story of self-discovery that could easy have been a drag, it also successfully implements backstory and flashbacks without slowing the vigorous pace of the plot. The character of Alan Clay is a puzzle, even to himself. At first he seems lazy and disconnected, especially from the scolding he receives prior to the international trip. With each flashback and obstacle, we learn more about our lead character that slowly warms us to him. In his first film, New York native Alexander Black is a genuinely original supporting character who is funny, charming, aloof and a cultural anomaly. Choudhury (Hunger Games, Admission) is another of the films highlights adding a new romantic dimension to the story.
Not only does A Hologram for the King pass my “pause it” test (unable to predict the outcome of a film by pausing at any moment), it takes the viewer on a mature journey of self-realization. Without entirely sacrificing his distinct style, Tykwer adapts Dave Eggers novel for a wider audience than his previous movies. He creates a visual rhythm with Alan’s routine enacting like a spinning top, taking the same path for a few turns before completely spinning out of control. Watching Hanks play this character without all the answers is fascinating as he discovers new things right along with the audience. It’s a satisfying drama filled with humor and catharsis that never goes exactly where you might expect.
Final Thought
Director Tykwer’s best work to date and Hank’s in over a decade.