Netflix's latest offering, A House of Dynamite, is an unimpressive addition to Kathryn Bigelow's already sizable filmography. With a script penned by Noah Oppenheim and a director known for her critically acclaimed works like The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty, the stakes were high. Unfortunately, the final product fails to deliver on its promise.
Bigelow's most successful films have always been those that explored complex themes through character-driven narratives. However, A House of Dynamite is more concerned with ticking down a countdown clock than with developing meaningful relationships between its characters. The pacing is relentless, but not in a good way; it feels like the film is treading water, waiting for the inevitable explosion.
One of the biggest disappointments here is the lack of nuance in Bigelow's portrayal of her female characters. Rebecca Ferguson's character, initially touted as a tough and capable working woman, disappears from the story all too soon. Meanwhile, we're left with a cast of gruff, patriarchal figures who seem to be more concerned with avoiding nuclear war than with finding solutions.
The film's visuals also take a hit. Bigelow's earlier films were known for their visceral, kinetic energy; here, the camerawork feels staid and uninspired. It's hard not to notice the similarities between this movie and some of Netflix's other recent releases – 24, The West Wing, or Zero Day all come to mind.
Perhaps most telling is how A House of Dynamite feels like a missed opportunity. With the script by Oppenheim, who recently worked on the Oscar-winning film Zero Day, one might have expected something more thoughtful and deliberate. Instead, we get a movie that spends two long hours scrambling around behind the curve, never quite able to catch up.
In short, A House of Dynamite is a major disappointment from an otherwise respected director. Bigelow has always been known for her ability to make films that feel urgent and relevant; here, she seems more concerned with avoiding criticism than with making something truly impactful. With its lackluster pacing, uninspired visuals, and missed opportunities, this movie feels like a shadow of what it could have been.
Bigelow's most successful films have always been those that explored complex themes through character-driven narratives. However, A House of Dynamite is more concerned with ticking down a countdown clock than with developing meaningful relationships between its characters. The pacing is relentless, but not in a good way; it feels like the film is treading water, waiting for the inevitable explosion.
One of the biggest disappointments here is the lack of nuance in Bigelow's portrayal of her female characters. Rebecca Ferguson's character, initially touted as a tough and capable working woman, disappears from the story all too soon. Meanwhile, we're left with a cast of gruff, patriarchal figures who seem to be more concerned with avoiding nuclear war than with finding solutions.
The film's visuals also take a hit. Bigelow's earlier films were known for their visceral, kinetic energy; here, the camerawork feels staid and uninspired. It's hard not to notice the similarities between this movie and some of Netflix's other recent releases – 24, The West Wing, or Zero Day all come to mind.
Perhaps most telling is how A House of Dynamite feels like a missed opportunity. With the script by Oppenheim, who recently worked on the Oscar-winning film Zero Day, one might have expected something more thoughtful and deliberate. Instead, we get a movie that spends two long hours scrambling around behind the curve, never quite able to catch up.
In short, A House of Dynamite is a major disappointment from an otherwise respected director. Bigelow has always been known for her ability to make films that feel urgent and relevant; here, she seems more concerned with avoiding criticism than with making something truly impactful. With its lackluster pacing, uninspired visuals, and missed opportunities, this movie feels like a shadow of what it could have been.
I was expecting so much more from Kathryn Bigelow after her Oscar-winning films 
A House of Dynamite just doesn't live up to the hype for me, the pacing is super slow and the characters feel like cardboard cutouts 
The female lead disappears way too soon 
it's like they're trying to make a ticking clock thriller but forgot to add any real tension or suspense 
Bigelow's style has always been so visceral and kinetic, but this film just feels... meh 
I mean what happened to her usual knack for making films that feel urgent and relevant? This one just feels like a bunch of random scenes strung together without any real purpose or direction 
Overall, A House of Dynamite is a major letdown from an otherwise legendary director 
"The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams." 
. I was expecting some real depth from her, you know? But nope, just your typical hero-villain stuff. And don't even get me started on Rebecca Ferguson's character... what happened to her?! 
. I mean I guess it's not like she's been on a losing streak or anything but still... 
at least her other films had some substance to them, not just a bunch of explosions and clock counting. and what's up with the female characters anyway? rebecca ferguson's character disappears in like 2 seconds? that's just lazy writing 
. Bigelow's always known how to make you feel like time is running out, but here it feels more like we're stuck in a never-ending loop 
Meanwhile, all these gruff dudes just wandering around like they own the place. And don't even get me started on the camerawork 
It's like Bigelow phoned it in.
. I mean, I love her other movies like The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty, but this one just didn't live up to the hype.