August 17th 2024.
Have you heard about the latest film on Netflix? It's none other than Vengeance, the directorial debut of B.J. Novak, who is best known for his role as Ryan Howard in The Office US. This talented comedian has also appeared in popular shows like The Mindy Project and films like Inglourious Basterds and Saving Mr. Banks.
In 2022, Novak took on the challenge of writing, directing, executive producing, and starring in Vengeance. The film follows the story of New York journalist Ben Manalowitz, played by Novak himself. When Ben receives a call from a stranger, Ty Shaw, informing him of the death of a woman he had a fling with, Abilene Shaw, due to a drug overdose, he sets out to investigate the matter in West Texas.
The star-studded cast also includes Dove Cameron, Issa Rae, and Ashton Kutcher, with Jason Blum producing under Blumhouse Productions. Vengeance premiered at the Tribeca Festival on June 12, 2022, and has received an impressive 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Novak's performance as Ben in the film has been praised by critics, with The Daily Telegraph describing it as "caustic, clever, and shallow entertainment." Chicago Reader also had positive words, calling it "a story about a storyteller who is creating a story about how mythology is created." Rolling Stone, on the other hand, highlighted Novak's comedic style and likable yet unlikable character.
Have you watched Vengeance yet? Comment now and let us know your thoughts!
In a recent interview, Novak opened up about the pressure he felt while taking on multiple roles in creating Vengeance and the valuable lessons he learned from the experience. "When I'm the boss of a film set, I am humbled and in awe of all the jobs that everybody has to do," he shared with NPR. "I was much nicer and more professional and more respectful of everyone's job than I've ever been when I realized that it fell on my shoulders."
Novak also talked about working with co-star Ashton Kutcher, who plays music producer Quentin Sellers in the film. "Ben goes to make fun of him, but ends up meeting someone way smarter and more charismatic and intelligent even than he thinks he is," Novak explained. "And he's really blown away by the surprises in Texas and what [Kutcher's character] tells him about the people there...And really who better than Ashton Kutcher for that, who is so easy to underestimate...[but] in reality is this brilliant producer and tech investor."
Interestingly, Novak and Kutcher go way back, with Novak's first job on camera being on Kutcher's show Punk'd. Novak recalled, "He was very detail-oriented, meanwhile he's wearing the trucker hat and he just looks like this kind of iconic celebrity. But he was calling all the shots."
Vengeance is now available to stream on Netflix. Don't miss out on this gripping and thought-provoking film! And if you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures to share, the entertainment team at The Agency would love to hear from you. Get in touch by emailing us, calling, or visiting our Submit Stuff page.
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