JASON EVANS' 100-WORD REVIEWS: Problemista

 A humorous take on the human condition

Film critic Jason Evans has made it his mission to tell you everything you need to know about movies in less time than it takes to crack open an egg. His reviews are exactly 100 words long (99 is not enough, but 101 is too long). Here is his 100-word review of Problemista.

The Premise: Julio Tores (a former SNL writer and creator/star of HBO’s Los Espookys) plays Alejandro, a  Salvadoran immigrant desperate to find his piece of the American Dream. When he gets fired from his job at a weird cryogenics company, he must find an employer willing to sponsor him or he will be deported. Enter Elizabeth (Academy Award winner Tilda Swinton), an art critic who needs someone to sort out her frenetic life and help promote her late husband’s paintings of eggs. Elizabeth is unstable and brings chaos with her wherever she goes. Can Alejandro somehow navigate the impossible maze of the U.S. immigration system while keeping Elizabeth happy long enough to get his green card? In addition to starring in the film, Torres makes his directing debut here. He is also the writer and producer.

The 100 Words: An unconventional, surreal, and magical journey that announces Julio Tores as a force in the world of comedy. He does a wonderful job of putting the audience in the mind of Alejandro and letting us feel the uncertainties and frustrations of the immigrant experience. Swinton, who loves quirky projects, is in full force here, bringing a kinetic energy that – at times – threatens to take over the entire film. Tores may be doing too much – would a more experienced director have fixed some of the minor pacing issues? – but the end product is still delightfully funny while carrying an important message.