The child inside knows her best for her voiceovers in The LEGO Movie and Migration while her on-set presence can’t be questioned in projects like The Hunger Games films. As a director, she’s shined behind projects like Cocaine Bear and Pitch Perfect 2. Now, Elizabeth Banks is back in front of the lens in the new medical drama A Mistake.
The film follows a promising and gifted young surgeon named Elizabeth Taylor (Elizabeth Banks) as she leads a team during surgery on a patient named Lisa Williams (Acacia O’Connor). When a fledgling in-resident surgeon Richard (Richard Crouchley) makes a mistake, Elizabeth is left to make split-second decisions to save Lisa’s life. The discussion with her surgical team during and after the procedure sets forth a dark turn of events that changes the course of Elizabeth’s life.
Directed by Christine Jeffs and based on the book of the same name, A Mistake follows the self-centered narcissist that is Elizabeth. Even though the mistake that occurred wasn’t hers, she makes it about herself, blaming her false sense of trust in Richard’s abilities as the reason for the error. A series of lies exacerbate the situation and make for an extremely taxing work environment. The building tension causes her to routinely attack her head of surgery Andrew McGrath (Simon McBurney) and damage her already inappropriate relationship with nurse and colleague Robin Mickey Sumner).
Elizabeth is failing as a professional and a friend, and Richard is uneasy with the lies that have been spread at their job. It might be triggering for some as a lot of workspaces have fallen to this low level of existence. Lies, bad management, and lack of accountability aren’t a set of foreign concepts. Every day, people find themselves loathing their jobs and normally, the three aforementioned circumstances are at the root of their distaste.
It’s been riding high after its debut at the Tribeca Film Festival. After getting picked up by Quiver Distribution, it’s prepared for a theatrical run that audiences should enjoy.
A Mistake gets an 8.5 out of 10. The film is good cinema from an acting standpoint, but this is by no means easily digestible. The characters aren’t embraceable and the subject matter is heavy. The dialogue from Elizabeth has some weak points and there are a handful of times where the director attempts to force emotion where there’s none to be had. None of these will take away from the plot or sour the experience so overall, it’s a well-received experience.
A Mistake will hit theaters this Friday, Sept. 20.
-Jon Jones