Tag Archives: Lance Oppenheim

Film reviews

You Can See Everything Review

Leave a comment

There is a point in life when we wonder what it would be like to be a celebrity. There are also moments when we wonder about what struggles being a celebrity would cause, especially when things do not go as planned. The real-life answers to these questions, including the challenges and punishments faced, are presented with honesty in You Can See Everything. Directors Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim dive into the life of Elizabeth Holmes in this film.  Fielder is with Elizabeth and her family throughout the film until she begins serving her  prison sentence. The whole experience feels real due to the mind and creativity of Fielder, who was the ideal director for You Can See Everything.

I met Nathan when I attended his live-in person event when he was promoting his series Nathan for You. This docuseries features Nathan utilizing his business degree and life experiences to turn big profits for real businesses. The comic approach to that show had many surprises. While the outcomes were often silly, they were quite genius. Oppenheim also experienced prior success directing Primetime.  In You Can See Everything, both Fielder and Oppenheim tap into their backgrounds working in the arena of real-life situations. 

The film kept my eyes glued to the screen, because every fragment of this story is real. Nathan stays with Elizabeth, her husband, Billy Evans, and her family. He talks to them and explores many different subjects. The truth behind Elizabeth’s story is spellbinding. Her actions do not only impact her, but those around her.  Nathan keeps digging for answers and the truth as he journeys through her life. 

The background of Elizabeth’s  testing company, Theranos, became a negative conspiracy. The many aspects of what went wrong are explored with an emotional tone. Nathan challenges Elizabeth and Billy about dishonesty involving the technology, the hidden truths, and the blindsiding of the investors. There is a long list of red flags to dig into during You Can See Everything.  I wanted Nathan to keep on going. I felt like I was in the room waiting for the other shoe to drop.. I felt Elizabeth’s pain. I even felt like I was walking in Nathan’s shoes as I watched everyone falling apart on-screen.

This captivating documentary will haunt audiences for years to come. This daring film provides evidence that there is no way to keep the truth from coming out. The directors’ brilliant approach gives audiences an insider’s look at an icon that started something and then lost it all. Although there are plenty of downer moments in the story, the eventual outcome is inevitable and real. Three-and-a-half out of four stars.

Film reviews

Primetime Review

Leave a comment

Written by Ajon Singh, based on the article by Luke Dittrich, and directed by Lance Oppenheim, this is Primetime. The film is based on events that occurred in 2006 with Chris Hansen, who did what he could to make television history with To Catch a Predator. The story begins with lots of surveillance, and then lots of revelations. Primetime is a magnificent and daring rollercoaster ride. Robert Pattinson plays Chris Hansen, and he is spectacular. The moving parts in his performance explore the tension between reality and career choices. His character blurs the lines creating a world of unexpected possibilities. Primetime brought me back to the era of TV shows when most people tuned into programming like Lost and Grey’s Anatomy at night. 

In Primetime, Chris Hansen finds himself in a position to be on top with his TV series To Catch a Predator. This show involves a sting operation where he lures grown-ups who chat with minors online and then busts them. His tactics generate all kinds of buzz—some good and some bad. What it comes down to is trying to keep up with the popularity of Lost. The competition element leads to a bumpy ride for Primetime because every move poses a risk. There are risks for the show as well as for Chris given the choices he makes. An assistant named Andie Bender (Merritt Wever) goes out of her way to skyrocket the budget. This leads to Chris having to hire an actor to pose for the show. That character is Dan Plumb (Skyler Gisondo). Chris calls him “Decoy Dan” because of how he is the first person in a shot before Chris comes in. 

To provide some context to the show’s format, Chris and his team find predators, give them an address, and then the camera crew waits…from there Chris takes the show over. He exposes his victims, tells them what they did wrong, and televises it. The pursuit of finding people who make bad choices is written in a vivid and enticing way. Pattinson displays an egotistical manner in his performance. His character is hungry for the views needed to keep his fame afloat, but he has some personal issues as well.

As part of the NBC network (he was a correspondent for Dateline NBC), Chris’ personal issues have an impact on him. While he is playing someone trying to catch bad guys to gain popularity, his own choices catch up with him. There are moments in which infidelity, lies, and deceit come into play in his own life. These behaviors could ruin his career. So, while he is doing all he can to market To Catch a Predator, the pressure is intense. Chris is put in a mind-boggling position where he must be willing to risk his career or his team. Pattinson is outstanding playing the monster of success. Many pressures are thrown his way, and turn into a scattered puzzle that makes viewers want more. What spoke to me was how his problems kept growing. It felt like a boiling pot that made me ache for more to be enthralled by. Oppenheim knows how to harness the unique tones of the era in Primetime.

There is a scene when Chris says, “The whale is coming,”  This comment causes viewers to ponder the amount of power of a TV network. In pursuit of fame, there are always unforeseen consequences. Given the shady subject matter of Chris’ show, not everyone in this era was a fan. In the end, Pattinson’s portrayal of Hansen in an industry-driven true story is unforgettable. Four out of four stars for Primetime.