'Succession' Creator's 28%-Rated Flick Is Now HBO's Most Watched Movie & Biggest Disaster
If you were eagerly awaiting the next project from Jesse Armstrong you might want to lower your expectations. Here's what went wrong with another story about obscenely wealthy men, Mountainhead.
Jesse Armstrong, who introduced the world to the Roy family in one of the best TV dramas of our time, Succession, has reached new heights. The director made another satire about billionaires pondering the fate of the world – now, in the form of a full-length movie titled Mountainhead.
'Mountainhead' Is Now HBO's Most-Watched Original Movie
The news about Armstrong's new project generated high expectations, which the movie unfortunately could not meet. Mountainhead received the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score of any original HBO film released in the 2020s – 28%.
Yes, but: Mountainhead has already become HBO's most-viewed original movie, surpassing the previous record-holder, Bad Education released on HBO in 2020.
What Is 'Mountainhead' About?
Four multimillionaires who have known each other for years gather for a weekend at one of their homes. Hugo, the poorest of the four, is ridiculed for his inability to earn his first billion.
Venis, the owner of the social platform Traam and the richest person present, finds himself in the eye of the storm. The newly revealed AI capabilities inside Traam have given rise to deepfakes of unprecedented authenticity.
Venis could be helped by the third guest, AI tycoon Jeff, whose company created a filter that recognizes fakes. However, Jeff is in no hurry to sell his brainchild. The fourth guest, Randall, has other concerns: the man has cancer, and the 10-15 years promised to him by doctors don't suit him.
'Mountainhead' Is a Far Cry From Succession's Dramatic Level
The story has potential – we are immersed in a world where power and technology merge into a destructive symbiosis. However, for nearly two hours, the movie goes nowhere. The characters remain the same as they were at the beginning.
It's not Succession, nor is it an attempt to be like it. Mountainhead looks like not the most outstanding episode of the show about millionaires.
Even the Brilliant Cast Led by Steve Carell Couldn't Save 'Mountainhead'
The movie addresses important topics, such as technocratic power, the moral emptiness of the wealthy, and the falsification of information, but it does so in a clumsy way. The characters are more mouthpieces for the screenwriter's thoughts than real people.
Although the cast is impressive, with Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, Cory Michael Smith, and Ramy Youssef, only Carell conveys more than the internal emptiness of a wealthy man.
What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Mountainhead'?
Time critic Judy Berman said:
“It's not that Armstrong is wrong about the targets of his mockery. He just doesn't seem to have much more insight into them than the average extremely online observer who's spent years despairing over the same headlines.”
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Mountainhead has 80% from critics and 28% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.
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On IMDb, the movie has a score of 5.5/10.
Where to Watch 'Mountainhead'?
Mountainhead is available to stream on HBO Max.
