A true-crime story this inherently bizarre should not require much embellishment, yet *Primetime* spends so much energy dressing itself up that the actual story gets buried underneath the filmmaking. What could have been a sharp, uncomfortable examination of television, celebrity, and the ethics of true crime instead becomes a frustratingly uneven film that mistakes stylistic excess for substance. Robert Pattinson gives a pretty good performance as Chris Hansen, bringing enough conviction to make the central figure compelling even when the screenplay does not. The supporting cast is strong …
Read full review →
