Human Capital (2020)

Human Capital is one of those films that has a strong ensemble cast who all give accomplished performances and play off each other so well they create something fascinating to watch. This interesting story of interconnected lives manages to examine class stratification in a compelling tale. But it is all brought together by the delightful cast. I just wanted to keep watching them interact.

The film makers tell the story through a series of interwoven individual stories layered on top of each other. First we follow one character through events, then another through those same events so we get to see different perspectives. This device isn't new but it is well executed here. Again the strength of the cast really makes it work.

The film sticks to the basics and is fairly economic in the way it tells the tales. It doesn't elaborate or go to far down any rabbit hole. But again I find that works here. Instead of Tarantino like back stories to each individuals we just get the necessary pieces to know who each player is and what they are struggling with. Maybe that choice to be on the efficient side keeps the film from being more than it is but also it keeps it from going off the rails. It plays it safe but in doing so still delivers on a complete story.

For me Human Capital came together quite nicely as a very satisfying package. And within that there is some interesting comments on class and economics and how that affects the humans within those systems. Good performances, an interesting story, worthwhile moral-to-the-story, and efficient story telling make a good rewarding movie.

Human Capital
Starring: Liam Schreiber, Marisa Tomei, Peter Sarsgaard, Maya Hawke, Alex Wolff, Betty Gabriel, Aasif Mandvi
Director: Marc Meyers
Writer: Oren Moverman