Nobel Son

Cleverly structured if unevenly executed, this convoluted black comedy sat on the shelf for nearly a year before receiving a token theatrical release. Bryan Greenberg stars in the title role as Barkley Michaelson, a grad student whose arrogant father Eli (Alan Rickman) is awarded a Nobel Prize for work he secretly pilfered from a deceased colleague. The dead man's son (Shawn Hatosy) hatches a plot to kidnap Barkley and force Eli to fork over his prize money in ransom. Mary Steenburgen is sweetness and warmth as the victim's mother, while Eliza Dushku sizzles as a seductive poet with her own part in the scheme, but both deserved more from director/co-writer Randall Miller's uneven Quentin Tarantino-influenced script. Nobel Son displays some originality, particularly in the ingenious and elaborate staging of the ransom pickup, and while ultimately disappointing, the film does serve up a dazzling variation on the old “worm turns” plot. Optional. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by director Randall Miller, writer-producer Jody Savin, cinematographer Mike Ozier, and costars Bryan Greenberg and Eliza Dushku, as well as a 13-minute “making-of” featurette, three deleted scenes (5 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for an interesting misfire.] (E. Hulse)