If you are looking for a fun B-movie, although pretty violent, check out “Normal,” Bob Odenkirk’s latest film. At only 90 minutes, it’s a taut thriller, with considerable comic relief. For a change, I didn’t think this movie was too long! I’m a big fan of Odenkirk, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Derek Kolstad. I don’t know how Odenkirk does it, but he can be very funny while playing a straight man.
The film begins in Osaka, Japan. A couple of Yakuza (Japanese Mafia) get their fingers chopped off by the Mob Boss due to botching a job. Instead of execution, they are given a chance to redeem themselves in, of all places, the very small town of Normal, Minnesota. Coincidentally, Ulysses (Odenkirk) has just started an eight-week job as the interim Sheriff of Normal. This opportunity became available because the prior Sheriff had died suddenly. Previously, while working as a Sheriff elsewhere, Ulysses was involved in a tragic, psychologically-traumatic house call, and he still hasn’t come to terms with it. He quit that more demanding and responsibility-heavy job in order to work in much less crime-ridden areas. After the tragedy, he became depressed, distant, and non-involved. His wife eventually lost patience with him and split.
At first, Normal seems to be the perfect choice for him. Everyone seems pretty friendly, and there isn’t much crime. At a bar, he opens up to Moira (Lena Headey – Cersei in “Game of Thrones”) about his past trauma. As the Sheriff of Normal, he primarily settles arguments and gets the citizens to move their cars. About one week into the gig, a desperate couple decide to rob the only bank in town. The bank alarm goes off at the police station, and Ulysses and his two deputies rush to the scene. Once they arrive, all hell breaks loose! As we all suspected from the opening scene, Normal, the bank, and the citizens living there are not quite what they appear to be.
I can’t say any more about the plot, but Robin and I liked it a lot. The first thirty minutes are very low-key (but interesting), and the last hour really cooks! It was also wonderful to see Lena Headey again. I hadn’t seen her in anything since “G.o.T.” I thought she was great in that part, and she does a nice job in this small role, too! I think it’s likely that choosing the name Ulysses for Odenkirk’s character is symbolic for Ulysses’ inner odyssey to rediscover who he is.
If you are looking for a fun B-movie, although pretty violent, check out "Normal," Bob Odenkirk's latest film. At only 90 minutes, it's a taut thriller, with considerable comic relief. For a change, I didn't think this movie was too long! I'm a big fan of Odenkirk, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Derek Kolstad. I don't know how Odenkirk does it, but he can be very funny while playing a straight man. The film begins in Osaka, Japan. A couple of Yakuza (Japanese Mafia) get their fingers chopped off by the Mob Boss due to botching a job. Instead of execution, they are given a chance to redeem themselves in, of all places, the very small town of Normal, Minnesota. Coincidentally, Ulysses (Odenkirk) has just started an eight-week job as the interim Sheriff of Normal. This opportunity became available because the prior Sheriff had died suddenly. Previously, while working as a Sheriff elsewhere, Ulysses was involved in a tragic, psychologically-traumatic house call, and he still hasn't come to terms with it. He quit that more demanding and responsibility-heavy job in order to work in much less crime-ridden areas. After the tragedy, he became depressed, distant, and non-involved. His wife eventually lost patience with him and split. At first, Normal seems to be the perfect choice for him. Everyone seems pretty friendly, and there isn't much crime. At a bar, he opens up to Moira (Lena Headey – Cersei in "Game of Thrones") about his past trauma. As the Sheriff of Normal, he primarily settles arguments and gets the citizens to move their cars. About one week into the gig, a desperate couple decide to rob the only bank in town. The bank alarm goes off at the police station, and Ulysses and his two deputies rush to the scene. Once they arrive, all hell breaks loose! As we all suspected from the opening scene, Normal, the bank, and the citizens living there are not quite what they appear to be. I can't say any more about the plot, but Robin and I liked it a lot. The first thirty minutes are very low-key (but interesting), and the last hour really cooks! It was also wonderful to see Lena Headey again. I hadn't seen her in anything since "G.o.T." I thought she was great in that part, and she does a nice job in this small role, too! I think it's likely that choosing the name Ulysses for Odenkirk's character is symbolic for Ulysses' inner odyssey to rediscover who he is.
Normal: Not Really!
Normal: Not Really!
2026-04-20
David
User Rating : No Ratings Yet !
8
