Film Review – Black Bear

Lawrence Michael Levine is the writer/director of “Black Bear,” out to create a cheeky, slippery mind-bender about the wilds of the creative process. He’s made a puzzle in many ways, and one with two defined levels of engagement, hoping to keep the audience on edge as he explores the depths of drama and the manufacturing of moments. “Black Bear” attempts to be a wily experience, but the viewing event is more about satisfying Levine’s loose sense of playfulness and understanding of human behavior. The first half of the feature winds up nicely, presenting tortured lives and acidic social engagement. Once Levine reveals what he’s up to at the halfway point of the endeavor, the movie collapses, transforming into a Charlie Kaufman-like tale of bent perspective and thin-ice reality. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com