“Uncertainty” reluctant to find the right course

Life’s events can usually be broken down in a simple synopsis: what could have happened versus what did happen. Uncertainty, dives into the chain of events set off by each decision we make,no matter how trivial our choices may originally seem. It deals with the reality of never turning back, and focuses on the importance of taking matters into our own hands.

Uncertainty is directed by Scott McGehee and David Seigel. It  stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Lynn Collins as Bobby Thompson and Kate Montero. The couple has their lives change by the flip of a coin, sending them in opposite directions, and telling two different stories. They stumble on a cell phone in the back of a cab in the first story, which is sought after by a criminal group, that makes Bobby and Kate their next target. The second tale examines the role of family, as Bobby struggles to become a part of Kate’s family, while Kate struggles to reveal information that may affect how her family judges her. Both stories weave back and forth, as the discoveries emerge, and the tension grows.

As you can probably tell, both plots are thin, and can come across as a little confusing. The film goes back and forth with two different storylines, and tries to juxtapose a central meaning, that

never quite comes to fruition. It touches on concepts of family, love, innocence, and self-discovery, but none of these elements are grounded in much of a reality to where we can connect with them. Both storylines have a vastly different tone that makes them feel like entirely separate movies. I spent the majority of my time waiting for them to overlap or come together, but that never occurred. The parallels exists, but there isn’t much of a payoff. I was left confused as to why things were told the way they were.

The performances are very strong. The plots are thin, and the storylines are disconnected, but Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Lynn Collins are fully aware of what’s at stake for each of them. The characters are rich and unique and I would like to have seen them developed more, opposed to seeing a story told in provocative fashion.

In the end, we become less attached to the characters because the plots are contrived and lack considerable depth. It’s a great film for those looking for quality performances, but the narrative may be too much for those used to a more conventional film structure.