MOVIE NEWS – It appears that Billy Crystal’s darker and more dramatic performance has not resonated well with critics, as Apple TV+’s new series Before premiered with a grim Rotten Tomatoes score today. Crystal stars as Eli Adler, a child psychologist with a troubled past who takes on a new client (Jacobi Jupe) connected to his own history in disturbing ways. The show’s first two episodes debuted today, with one new episode airing weekly until the finale on December 20.

As per Rotten Tomatoes, Before currently holds a mere 20% rating from critics, though only five reviews have been logged so far, leaving room for the score to shift. Notably, the series has yet to receive an audience score, so public opinion remains to be seen.

Known for his comedic roles in City Slickers, When Harry Met Sally, and The Princess Bride, Before marks a clear departure for Crystal, who collaborated on the series with creator Sarah Thorp and executive producer Eric Roth. Originally not attached to star, he later shared with MovieWeb’s Matt Mahler that he grew to love Eli’s character due to its depth.

“It was such a full plate of his own trauma. There was guilt, there was regret, there was integrity. There was this pursuit of the truth and this detective quality in him that says ‘I’ll break every truth I have to as long as I can get this kid whole.’ I loved that about it.”

What Are Critics Saying About Before?

Unfortunately, Crystal’s enthusiasm for the project hasn’t won over critics, who have largely responded negatively to Apple TV+’s new thriller, as seen in its Rotten Tomatoes score. Daniel Feinberg of The Hollywood Reporter describes it as “basically a flimsy direct-to-video movie from the late ’90s stretched to 10 stultifying half-hour episodes.” Ouch!

Saloni Gajjar of the A.V. Club shares a similar sentiment, calling Before “a meandering mess from start to finish” that “nudges at the horrifying possibilities of its sweeping narrative without realizing any of its potential.” Alison Herman from Variety adds:

“Even with half-hour episodes, several coming in under the 25-minute mark, this drama still manages to drag, endlessly repeating the same setups and visual themes to buy time until an unsatisfying conclusion.”

However, it’s not all bad news: though the series itself has faced harsh critiques, Crystal’s performance has garnered praise. The Guardian’s Lucy Mangan writes, “he never takes refuge in his comedy persona, and he utterly convinces as a man struggling with experiences he never imagined he would have to go through.” Will this be enough to win over audiences? You can tune in on Apple TV+ to see for yourself and keep an eye on Rotten Tomatoes for updates on its Popcornmeter score.

Source: MovieWeb