The Leisure Class
  • Network: HBO
  • Series Premiere Date: Nov 2, 2015
User Score
2.7

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 26 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 26
  3. Negative: 19 out of 26
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User Reviews

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  1. bigrich
    Nov 2, 2015
    1
    After watching the fourth season of project greenlight and seeing the director fighting hard to make the movie he wanted, I was hoping for something somewhat different or special. It seemed like the opportunity for a good movie was there, but it just never came together. I only laughed once.
  2. Buddah
    Nov 10, 2015
    2
    Jason Mann is the type of person you want to see fail, but I am not about rooting against the movie because it involves so many people that rely on it's success. In the end, the movie failed for me. I do not live in that world and can't relate to the characters, but it is the director's job to get me to care. Mr. Mann is too self-involved with the look of the picture to see that theJason Mann is the type of person you want to see fail, but I am not about rooting against the movie because it involves so many people that rely on it's success. In the end, the movie failed for me. I do not live in that world and can't relate to the characters, but it is the director's job to get me to care. Mr. Mann is too self-involved with the look of the picture to see that the characters are not developed enough. I enjoyed watching Project Greenlight because of the drama that was built up each week between Effie and Jason. If I was given the opportunity that Jason was, I would have been very humble in my attitude going in, and quite thankful of all the people involved with the project. I do not believe Effie came across well at all, but Jason's unwillingness to recognize her job, was the catalyst to her attitude. The movie was not funny, was not fun to watch and for Jason, and only Jason I am glad it failed. I hope if he ever gets a chance to direct again he will see the error of his ways, but he will have to improve himself as a person first, and that is a project that will never be completed.

    The senator's daughter Fiona played by Bridget Regan was the only light in this dark comedy, but I was disappointed with her choice at the end, and that made me very glad when the credits rolled to end this mess. This movie had me believing at times I was involved in the aristocratic world of one of Robert Altman's movies. I am not a fan of Altman's either. I am a blue collar guy who does not dream to be in that world, yet in this "comedy" I was ready for that world to be made fun of, and it never happened, Yet, I have enjoyed myself in a lot of movies billed as comedies and never laughed once because the movie was sound fundamental. Seeing the crew in Project Greenlight laugh hardheartedly in pre-production, I wanted that too. Now I am left to believe that the people involved in this HBO Project do not know what us as an audience wants.

    That guy who made the mini-Jigsaw film was the right choice. I laughed so hard watching that piece, I only wanted to see more of that guy's humor, especially along side the Farrelly Brothers, whom Effie pushed away. In the end, the investment I made in watching Project Greenlight left me empty. I hope the show comes back, but they make better choices.    … Expand
  3. Indiefilmlover
    Nov 4, 2015
    3
    As a lover of independent film, I can overlook a lot of a movie's shortcomings, particularly coming from a first-time filmmaker. That is assuming the story and/or characters are compelling. Unfortunately, about all I can say good about "The Leisure Class" is that in purely technical terms it's well made. That is the camera is generally in the right place, the picture is in focus and youAs a lover of independent film, I can overlook a lot of a movie's shortcomings, particularly coming from a first-time filmmaker. That is assuming the story and/or characters are compelling. Unfortunately, about all I can say good about "The Leisure Class" is that in purely technical terms it's well made. That is the camera is generally in the right place, the picture is in focus and you can understand what the characters are saying. Technical qualities aside, there is very little to recommend.

    In terms of the story, characterizations, and consistency of tone, the film is pretty dreadful. It also commits the biggest sin of all -- it's just plain dull. As a comedy the film was a complete disaster. There's not a funny moment in the film. The most obvious attempts at humor like the butler's line about someone relieving himself on a luxury car was just odd.

    Tom Bell as Leonard, William's ne'er do well brother is marginally interesting, but his antics get tiring very quickly. Leonard seems completely disconnected from every character in the film with the exception of his brother. In general, the film's characters behave inexplicably in many situations.

    I have to think pretty hard to remember the last time I have seen a film this bad. Perhaps it was Spike Lee's major misfire, "She Hate Me" from over ten years ago. [I've so far avoided his much maligned remake of "Old Boy" and "Da Sweet Blood of Jesus" (a remake of "Ganja and Hess").] I also generally avoid most major studio films, unless they receive significant praise from the critics, so I'm sure I've avoided many turkeys.

    If Jason Mann wants to have a career in Hollywood he needs to get his priorities straight and focus his attention on what's truly important in a film. No one cares if a project is shot on film and has slick camera moves, if the characters aren't interesting and behave in a totally illogical manner.    … Expand
  4. dnywholvsbwling
    Nov 5, 2015
    8
    This movie was not good. Damon and Affleck probably deserve the bad reviews more then a team that was seemingly set up to fail. Giving a Farrelly brothers script dealing with a prostitute and pimp to a strong black feminist woman producer.... Then swapping that script out for a white elitist farce lacking a single diverse character....

    That said, Weeks and Bell might have felt less    This movie was not good. Damon and Affleck probably deserve the bad reviews more then a team that was seemingly set up to fail. Giving a Farrelly brothers script dealing with a prostitute and pimp to a strong black feminist woman producer.... Then swapping that script out for a white elitist farce lacking a single diverse character....

    That said, Weeks and Bell might have felt less burdened if they were given stronger females to play off of. Instead, the females were one dimensional and poorly written. I gave it a higher score b/c I watched the series and it makes it more interesting. The thrown together script was a terrible idea though, it likely needed at least a year of development instead of a couple weeks.    … Expand
  5. SleepyZZ
    Nov 4, 2015
    6
    Wow, this movie is getting destroyed by the reviewers. I went in with pretty low expectations after seeing the TV series and reading some of the reviews. Yeah, the movie is far from perfect with a lack of story and character development among other things, but it provided some good laughs. I don't think I would spend money to see it in a theater, but for an HBO movie, I rather enjoyedWow, this movie is getting destroyed by the reviewers. I went in with pretty low expectations after seeing the TV series and reading some of the reviews. Yeah, the movie is far from perfect with a lack of story and character development among other things, but it provided some good laughs. I don't think I would spend money to see it in a theater, but for an HBO movie, I rather enjoyed it -- at least more than most others, apparently.… Expand
  6. Knighthawk81
    Nov 3, 2015
    3
    I watched all of "Project Greenlight" and I was excited to see the finished product. What we get, here, is something that perfectly matches the directors' sense of style and vision, but a film that doesn't really work. It is, at times, painfully unfunny. I can't say I really cared about the characters, either. Not sure what they're going for here, but it doesn't work.
  7. writerinwaiting
    Nov 2, 2015
    0
    ben and matt should have donated their share to charity. film was awful from the first 10 seconds. unlikeable characters, weighty background that dwarfed the actors, weird color and lighting, dumb plot, stilted dialogue. come on ben and matt --- stop going for the young, new filmmakers. this is about talent and entertainment, not filmmaking in diapers. because then you get crap.
  8. GotHeeeem
    Nov 3, 2015
    10
    AWESOME MOVIE....Overall the movie is SOLID 8.8 but because these naysayers are giving it low rating i had to put a 10 to balance it out a bit.

    I watched all of "Project Greenlight" was very excited for this movie and it went way way way above and beyond expectations, the movie was so funny and enjoyable, the movie FELT SO REAL. a real family goes through the quirky brotherly situations    AWESOME MOVIE....Overall the movie is SOLID 8.8 but because these naysayers are giving it low rating i had to put a 10 to balance it out a bit.

    I watched all of "Project Greenlight" was very excited for this movie and it went way way way above and beyond expectations, the movie was so funny and enjoyable, the movie FELT SO REAL. a real family goes through the quirky brotherly situations and crazy family events that go on in this movie, but again the humor is so unique that I was soooo entertained, more movies need to do this such a good change of pace. Overall acting is amazing besides from a slight hiccup i think in the first 30 seconds of the film, but after that amazing.. All in all I really cant say enough about how i truly enjoyed the movie for the unique humor and flow of the storytelling. Also, I am REALLY HAPPY they put in the Fiona on the steps scene to clarify and then at the end it leaves you with the hmmmm feeling. In conclusion, the movie is just very funny, witty, and again, very very enjoyable. MUST WATCH MOVIE//Overall score is 8.8    … Expand
  9. BogKid
    Nov 3, 2015
    2
    I watched "Project Greenlight" about the making of this HBO film. And it IS a film since Jason, the director, spent lots of time and money insisting upon shooting this thing on film rather than digitally. Film did not help I doubt that anything could have helped this waste of a movie. That ponderous house they finally chose as their shooting location weighs down an already boring andI watched "Project Greenlight" about the making of this HBO film. And it IS a film since Jason, the director, spent lots of time and money insisting upon shooting this thing on film rather than digitally. Film did not help I doubt that anything could have helped this waste of a movie. That ponderous house they finally chose as their shooting location weighs down an already boring and slow movie. The story was uninteresting and the characters were unlikeable. Jason spent a bunch of time chasing down his excited picks for the two male leads. Having seen the film, I cannot imagine why. I would mention their names if I remembered them at all.

    I really think if the director and the production people spent less time with their unending hugging on "Greenlight", they might have had more time to make a decent movie. More like Lifetime than HBO.    … Expand
  10. Kaleeshi
    May 22, 2016
    4
    This movie eventually did not get the chance to come out well. Too many cooks obviously. Too bad. Let's hope Jason gets another chance. It is incoherent and the characters never managed to become likable or
    interesting.
  11. nyphx
    Nov 10, 2015
    2
    The best i can say about this movie is, i have seen worse. And the real crime is the actors have been really goood in other roles, so i know they can act.

Awards & Rankings

90
#90 Most Shared TV Season of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
25

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 7
  3. Negative: 5 out of 7
  1. The Wrap
    Reviewed by: Ned Ehrbar
    Nov 3, 2015
    30
    It is difficult to separate The Leisure Class from "Project Greenlight," and that’s probably to the film’s benefit, since it can’t stand up on its own. It’s a farce that’s not particularly farcical, a dark comedy with little humor, a screwball caper that wants to suggest great films of yesteryear without giving its own plotting and details the attention they need to work in that style. Everything feels undercooked.
    Read full review
  2. IndieWire
    Reviewed by: Liz Shannon Miller
    Nov 3, 2015
    50
    I, meanwhile, found myself moved by the final shot...but otherwise underwhelmed.
    Read full review
  3. Yahoo TV
    Reviewed by: Ken Tucker
    Nov 2, 2015
    10
    The Leisure Class is every bit as pinched and humorless its director.... It’s a piece of predictable hackwork.
    Read full review
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