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Shia LaBeouf’s career has been a mixed bag full of highs and lows. Early on, he displayed his comedic timing on The Disney Channel’s Even Stevens, then carried that momentum into comedy roles in films like Holes. Despite showing growth and range in The Greatest Game Ever Played and A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, he’s been critically panned for his more recent performances in the Transformers trilogy.
In comparison, LaBeouf’s next film, Charlie Countryman, looks like a film full of roller coasters. Fredrik Bond’s feature-length directorial debut follows LaBeouf’s character, the titular Charlie Countryman, as he falls in love with a girl in Romania (Evan Rachel Wood). However, an underground crime gangster is also in love with her, creating a physical conflict between the two. Rupert Grint (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) plays a supporting role, too!
Based off of this first trailer, it appears the film is overloaded with various genre influences and tonal shifts, which could be a bad thing if not handled properly. Early reviews have been mediocre, but I’m keeping an open mind for LaBeouf’s sake. Charlie Countryman will be in theaters on November 15th.