With its timely release during an election year, Rumours, with its dark wit and star-studded cast led by Cate Blanchett, should’ve been a memorable endeavour. Yet its throwaway plot, one-note tackling of its themes, and unintriguing mystery leave the piece flailing for coherence. Flat and forgettable, Rumours feels more like an SNL skit and less like an artistic dissection of international politics and governmental relations.
★★★☆☆
In Rumours, the G7 is comprised of fictional figures, with undeniable parallels to some very real world leaders, whose personalities can best be described as caricatures of the countries they represent. They gather in a small town in Germany to discuss an unspecified ecological crisis—but not before a photocall with a recently-discovered mummified body! The whole ordeal comes off more like a last-minute group project rather than an important meeting with any political impact. As day turns into night, dangerous creatures come alive, lurking and preying on the world leaders. Discussions of the ambiguous ecological crisis fall short as the hunted group must find their way out of the forest.
Casting is a very important detail in Rumours. Even casting English actor Charles Dance as Edison Wolcott, President of the United States, becomes part of the film’s irony. The actors chosen very much embody their roles, adding a touch of extravagance that signals a sense of self-awareness. While all of them deliver strong and enjoyable performances, some are better used than others. The two standouts are Cate Blanchett’s German Chancellor Hilda Ortmann and Roy Dupuis’ Canadian Prime Minister Maxime Laplace, with Hilda’s one-sided pining for Maxime adding texture to the interplay of their political approach and personal principles. The interactions and the different dynamics that bloom between the cast are what keeps the audience entertained.
Illogical characters, nonsensical actions, dark satire and ludicrous worldbuilding can be smart and entertaining. But there’s a very fine line between doing these things to serve a purpose and pushing boundaries just for the sake of it. There’s some method to the madness in Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson and Galen Johnson’s writing and direction. On the one hand, the feature very much feels like an absurdist fever dream with a lot to say about the current state of the world and the individuals leading it; on the other hand, it can come across as overly indulging in chaos to mask its hesitance to discuss deeper and heavier political subject matters. Rumours pales in comparison, script-wise and in thematic execution, to films like The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) and Poor Things (2023). It also lacks the visual flare of truly unhinged satirical pieces like Saltburn (2023) and Audrey (2024).
The Verdict
On paper, Rumours reads like something with plenty of potential. The characters especially, and with this particular cast, could’ve taken the film in so many unique and interesting directions while still discussing important topics and providing fresh perspectives going into the aftermath of the US election next year. But alas, the picture isn’t coherent enough to articulate important political discussions. Most of everything it tries to convey has been done and said before. Even the leaders’ deliberate apathy towards the ecological crisis comes across as just an excuse to sidestep providing nuanced details. Most damningly, Rumours doesn’t go far enough to be entertaining. Its one saving grace is its excellent cast, with actors who dedicate themselves to trying to make the lacklustre script work.
Words by Mae Trumata
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