Playing God

Playing God is an enjoyable family movie that provides a relatable story around the “why” question we would all ask of a higher power if given the opportunity. The writing is solid, neither relying heavily on vilifying or over-selling the idea, and the cinematography by Cody Bess is beautiful. Very well done debut by Director Scott Brignac and his team at Watershed Motion Pictures.

This movie keeps you engaged. From laughs to tears, you’re on the edge of your seat. Wonderful performances by the actors. Thought provoking and leaves you wanting more.

Playing God fascinates me, because the movie it begins as is not the movie it is when the credits roll. In the beginning, it has all the propulsive energy of an Ocean’s Eleven or American Hustle - a lively film in near-constant montage about a brother and sister con duo attempting to rob a delusional billionaire by staging a meeting with God. But as it goes on, a shift so subtle it’s hardly noticeable begins - the focus moves from the con to the conned, becoming a deeply emotional and moving character study about the pain of loss and the fractured ways we respond to it. This obviously puts a lot of weight on the performers, but thankfully, the cast (featuring Firefly’s Alan Tudyk and Spinal Tap’s Michael McKean) proves more than capable of carrying the load. Tudyk especially is a standout here, grounding the aforementioned billionaire’s delusions in a pathos one might never have guessed at from his better-known comedic roles. All of these elements together - con and character study, philosophy and fun - blend together into an utterly unique viewing experience, which is something one can’t say often. Highly recommended.

Story flows very well with relatable characters. Highly engaging film that stands apart from the crowd.

What a wonderful surprise! Everything about this movie is really good start to finish. Twists and turns in the storyline keep you engaged, the acting and cinematography are superior, music is moving (who knew The Beach Boys did an acapella choral piece that is lights-out good) and the whole movie experience leaves you feeling great. It’s a smart, fresh take on age old questions that need to be addressed in our day and age.