"Rick" is an example of a decent indie film that never realized its potential.The premise of the film was great, especially the early sequence in which the greedy, callous, executive Rick O'Lette (Bill Pullman) is unbearably rude to a young woman named Michelle interviewing for a job (Sandra Oh). In the film's best scene, Michelle lays a "curse" on him, which he instantly recognizes will come to pass.Unfortunately, the rest of film was predictable and one-dimensional. Apart from Pullman, Oh, and Agnes Bruckner (who plays O'Lette's daughter), the acting wasn't very good. Also, there was overkill on the scoring that called major attention to the music, as opposed to utilizing the sound to support the dramatic moments.It was unfortunate that Sandra Oh's character Michelle was not developed throughout the movie. We needed to learn more about her background and the "curse" that was her design on the evil Rick O'Lette.For a good film dealing with the theme of corporate greed and the personal toll it can take on a family, "In Good Company" succeeds in every area where "Rick" ultimately fails.

This movie moved in such a quick and informative cycle I felt I couldn't spare 3 minutes to grab a feed bag and a bottle. I can't remember any movie I've seen lately being as captivating and quick.The cast plays the characters in an alternately despicable and delectable, very off-hand way. Who to loathe... more? Many characters are disastrous self-absorptions.Especially notable are the performances of Sandra Oh, Bill Pullman and Dylan Baker. I guess the most notable performance award from me goes to the guy who played Bill Pullman's boss (BIGBOSS), because I disliked that character so much I forgot to even look up the actor's name.Details, details, delicious details are all over this film. The constantly changing phone number on BUCK's business card. The changing wallpaper, the distant behaviour of the friend of Rick's daughter. Rick's office door opening in different directions in different scenes.This movie is worth every moment. I voted so high because I watched it on cable and I couldn't pause it and I wouldn't go pee.Frankly, I found it to be a very captivating movie full of captivating characters full of honest hope and blind faith.

I saw this movie at a screening during South By Southwest in Austin. While I couldn't put my finger on any one thing that I don't like about this movie, I just didn't leave the theater with a good feeling about this movie.**SEMI-SPOILER AHEAD**This might be because the movie offers absolutely no redemption at the end - the bad guy doesn't get it, the good guy does, etc. I also was uncomfortable with the amount of sexual tension that was created between Rick (Pullman) and his daughter (Bruckner). I understand why it was included, but think it was unnecessary.**SPOILER OVER**There were a lot of things that could have been better, and a lot of things that could have been worse. Bruckner is going to be big, I think - watch for her! Pullman doesn't quite pull off his performance, but is watchable.

Rick, well received at the SXSW festival this year, is a faithful modernization of Giuseppe Verdi's 1851 tragic opera "Rigoletto," which was also a reworking of Victor Hugo's "Le Roi s'amuse." I did not realize this until the Q & A period following the film, and it made all the difference. Without the tie to the opera, the film will be judged too much on the curse of believability, and that is a shame.The trio of Pullman, Aaron Stanford as Duke a.k.a. Bigboss, and especially Agnes Bruckner pull off strong performances.The dark moods and sound of the film are terrific, and the use of anonymous Internet sex chat to set up the relationship between Rick's boss and his daughter Eve (Agnes Bruckner) works well. Rick does have some difficulties. The crucial misfire is an absurd plot contrivance used to set up a mistaken identity.Director Curtiss Clayton has had difficulty distributing this film that has everything going against it in today's market - Pullman's unlikable main character Rick O'Lette, lack of a happy ending, and if Clayton mentions Rigoletto as the basis of the film, he is met with blank stares. Hopefully, he'll run into one opera-savvy distributor and get Rick beyond the film festivals, at least into the art houses.8.5/10