Out of Blue, the newest film from director/writer Carol Morley (The Falling), is out to theaters this Friday. And it’s a heck of a confusing film.

Based on the 1997 novel by Martin Amis, Night Train, the film follows detective Mike Hoolihan (Patricia Clarkson) as she attempts to solve the mysterious death of esteemed astrophysicist Jennifer Rockwell (Maime Gummer). For the most part, the film follows your typical whodunit narrative, but in the meantime Detective Hoolihan learns about the existence of black holes and how Rockwell’s work might have led to her death. It’s an interesting story with a twist ending, but the film spends way too much time discussing the astrophysics of it all, making pretty much of all act two hopelessly boring, to put it bluntly.

Cinematically, Morley creates a visually appealing film, and there’s certainly much to be said for both Clarkson and Gummer’s acting chops. But their talent is usually overshadowed by the overtly foreboding music that plays all too often and the storyline that keeps getting derailed by physics-related details that in the end prove to only be tangental to the ultimate crime. The film also stars James Caan (The Godfather) and Jacki Weaver (Silver Linings Playbook) as Rockwell’s bereaving parents and Toby Jones (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) in a menacing role as Rockwell’s professor. Aaron Tveit (Grease: Live!) is also in the film, although his talent is wasted on an inconsequential part.

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Where the film truly shines is in its ending, which is wonderfully twisted and shocking. It’s the kind of end that’s perfect in a whodunit film, the kind that finally gives Clarkson something wonderful to do on screen. Unfortunately, however, by the time you get there, you’ll probably be bored.

Out of Blue will hit theaters to a limited release on Friday, March 22. See the full trailer here:

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