Movie Review: ‘Problemista’

Review by James Lindorf

Julio Torres is a Salvadoran writer, comedian, and actor. In 2016, he started a five-year stint writing for “Saturday Night Live,” during that time, he helped develop the HBO series “Los Espookys” as a lead actor, co-creator, writer, and executive producer. When that show came to an end, he set his sights on the big screen, Not just as an actor but as a writer and for the first-time director. With the backing of A24 and producers like Emma Stone, Torres is bringing his unique sensibilities to bear in this satirical take on the New York art scene and the American immigrant experience. “Problemista” already plays in a limited number of markets but opens wide on March 22nd.

Alejandro (Julio Torres) is the son of a single mother and artist, Dolores (Catalina Saavedra), who instilled in him the power of imagination and the joy of creating. Unlike his mother, Alejandro left their home in El Salvador for life in New York City, hoping to land his dream job designing toys for Hasbro. With only a month left on his work visa, Alejandro must find a new sponsor, and out of desperation, he takes a job assisting erratic art-world outcast Elizabeth (Tilda Swinton). Low on money, Elizabeth is trying to plan a show to display her cryogenically frozen husband Bobby’s (RZA) art. As she becomes increasingly demanding and abusive, Alejandro sees his dream slipping through his fingers. Still, if he makes the right moves and navigates the equally treacherous U.S. Immigration system, they both might get what they want.

Torres has a lot in common with his fictional character. They are both passionate and filled with ideas, several of which are good but missing the refinement that comes with experience or guidance. “Problemista” is, at times, a moving emotional drama as Alejandro and Elizabeth fight their issues to achieve a goal, and then it gets a little weird. The non-traditional visuals come in two forms. First, there is the sleek and ominous world used to depict Alejandro’s struggle working in the system, and one inspired by classic fairytale imagery, done on a LARPing budget when Elizabeth is at her worst. All combined, they give the film a look that is a bit disjointed but entirely dreamed up by Torres, so we will have to wait and see if “Problemista” is him trying to find his directorial style or if he is already a fully realized creative force who wants to keep audiences on their toes.

One area where Torres is clearly in control is when he is working with the actors. Many ancillary characters are one-dimensional, but the cast is fully committed to playing those roles. While it may be unbelievable to anyone not from New York that this many quirky individuals could surround him, their performances feel natural and entertaining, even if the jokes don’t always land. Then there is Tilda Swinton, who is always fantastic and often disappears into her roles, as in “Snowpiecer.” For “Problemista,” she is giving a performance unlike any I can recall from her past and would be expected from Nicholas Cage. She is big, brash, and broken, and even though she is too often harnessing her superpower of being a “Karen,” you still connect with her and her struggle. From a character perspective, Elizabeth is the film’s best part, and it was only enhanced by having an actress of Swinton’s caliber give the portrayal.

If the issues with “Problemista” prove to be growing pains, then I am ready to buy a ticket for Torres’ next project site unseen. Suppose he can focus his visual storytelling and use it and his dialogue to convey a message without characters looking at the camera and stating it. In that case, he will move from artful to masterful. “Problemista” earns a 3.5 out of 5 for skillful acting and quirky and quick-witted humor but loses points for lacking consistency in how the story is delivered.

Rating: R
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Director: Julio Torres
Producer: Emma Stone, Dave McCary, Ali Herting
Writer: Julio Torres
Release Date: March 22nd, 2024
Runtime: 1h 38m
Distributor: A24