This neo-noir should have been better. It could easily have culled an 8 from me. But the writing did not deliver. It's almost as if the writer-director lost a bet, and had to pull out the plot points that meant the difference between this being a good film people would talk about, vs something no one's heard of. Which is a shame, because the writer-director is one of hollywood's most lauded writers going.

I'm soft for desert movies. This one starts out well. Then it moved to L.A. and fast lost its momentum, its pacing, and sill in plotting. And Mark Wahlberg's part? Just filler. Same with Goggins. Literally nothing more than someone for the protagonist to speak to so we don't have to use thought bubbles. In fact, most of the other actors that have talking don't need them, because they don't go anywhere in the story.

If you're watching this in hopes of a twist, then don't bother. There is none.

Otherwise, there's oddly inserted literary references that would only come from a director who was also a writer. Shakespeare, Melville, don't add to the story. They barely even fulfill the purpose of making this story feel more philosophical.

A screenwriter who submitted this script would have been rejected if he was new. Something this flawed could only get greenlit if the writer was already A-list, as this writer was. It violates one of the so called "rules" of scriptwriting -- that every scene, every act, every word, has some role in moving the story forward. This one had too many that didn't.

It's an ages-old conceit that experienced hollywood filmmakers like to make films about hollywood that reveal its meaninglessness, its shallowness, its callous narcissism. This one does all that. Complete with asskissing personal assistants or bedraggled personal assistants. PAs are the lifeblood of the industry, but are rarely depicted in compelling ways. This film is no exception. But not in an instructive nor satisfying way.

Films are too expensive to make merely to make a statement that the film biz doesn't matter. But this one sure works hard at it.

Review: I really had high hopes for this movie but it seemed to come and go really quickly and the ending was really disappointing. I was expecting a massive showdown between Thomas (Garrett Hedlund) and Jack (Oscar Isaac), who cross paths in the Mojave desert and become enemies after Jack, a penniless drifter, finds out about Thomas's wealth. Jack then follows Thomas to torment him, after an unfortunate incident that happened in the desert, which also puts Thomas's close friends and loved one in danger. Personally, i thought that the whole project lacked depth and it just seems like Thomas was in a world of his own most of the time. Oscar and Wahlberg were the best thing in the movie because they put some effort into there characters but apart from that, the storyline was weak and it would have made more sense if Thomas would have just come clean about the whole mistake that happened in the desert. Wahlberg (Norman) did make me laugh but he was only in a couple of scenes, which was a shame. Basically, this movie was a big let down and it was a waste of a good cast. Disappointing!

Round-Up: Garrett Hedlund, 31, also worked alongside Mark Wahlberg in Four Brothers, and he also starred in Inside Llewyn Davis with Oscar Isaac, so there was a sense of chemistry between the characters but it was the script that let it down. He first came on the scene in 2004 in Troy and he's taken the lead in big movies like Tron: Legacy, Eragon and Pan but it will take some time before he becomes a household name. Anyway, this movie was written and directed by William Monahan, 55, who also brought you London Boulevard starring Colin Farrell, Keira Knightley and Ray Winstone. The whole project seemed a bit rushed and not thought through properly, in my opinion but on the plus side, the Mojave backdrop did look authentic but that's about it.

I recommend this movie to people who are into their thrillers starring Oscar Isaac, Garrett Hedlund, Louise Bourgoin, Walton Goggins, Mark Wahlberg and Tim Soergel. 3/10

Greetings from Lithuania.

"Mojave" (2015) is definitely not a thriller for a mainstream audiences. Although it was very involving, superbly acted by both leads and especially by always terrific Oscar Isaac as well as superbly and not typically written, i found to my surprise that this movie has such a negative buzz. Why? It was very simple yet fascinatingly told story, not a typical one. It also shows this dark side of Hollywood, where having all you ever wanted can be a nightmare, because there isn't what to reach for more.

Overall, "Mojave" isn't a typical thriller, although it is intense and highly involving one. Acting was terrific and writing superb. Surelly as it seem this movie is not for everyone, although this one is a real gem.