Alien at the Movies

Seemingly, there is a peaceful idyllic family living community set in this 1959 suburb, but upon closer inspection, all is not right in this dark comedy written by the Coen brothers under the direction of George Clooney and starring Matt Damon, Julianne Moore, & Oscar Isaac. This is a twisted tale involving murder, violent thugs, possible insurance fraud, blackmail, & deceit with ugly side of racism seeming to only serve as a distraction. The film perfectly captures the look & the feel of the fifties but it is a dreadfully slow moving mystery with unlikable characters. It is so dark that barely any humor ever seems to come to light. For this reviewer, about the only saving grace was the final sense of irony. Maybe Suburbicon here should have been called Disturbia.

Alien gives it 1½ "dirty little secrets" stars out of 4.