Film Review: ‘The Performance’ is a Surprisingly Effective Historical Drama

When you hear the description for The Performance, two thoughts likely jump into your head. One is that it’s wild that no one has made this film before. The other is that there’s a high potential for the movie to turn out poorly. So, the fact that The Performance turns out so well here is a credit to not just the folks involved getting it over the finish line, but making sure that it was done right. What could have been a rough experience instead is both entertaining and subtly powerful.

The Performance has a lot to say about identity and what fame is worth to a person. It manages to do so in a way that never forgets that a film needs to be enjoyable. The stakes are real, the danger is vivid, but there’s also some fun on display. It makes the movie feel more complete and less like homework than it otherwise would have.

Based on a story by Arthur Miller, we meet Harold May (Jeremy Piven) in 1937. In Europe, fascism is on the rise via Germany and Adolf Hitler. In New York, Harold is an American Jew and a talented tap dancer, one past his prime, but still yearning for the respect that’s never come his way. While performing with his troupe, including old flame Carol (Maimie McCoy), he gets an offer that he literally can not refuse.

When Harold and company are scouted and recruited by German attaché Damian Fugler (Robert Carlyle), the latter is unaware that May is Jewish. In short order, he offers them a huge amount of money to do one performance in Berlin. Harold convinces the group to accept, though once they arrive they realize that the performance will be for none other than Hitler himself. The group wants to leave immediately, though Harold is conflicted. He can keep his true self a secret and see his dreams come true, or he can escape, giving them up in the process.

Jeremy Piven has never been given material like this to play and aces it, proving why he pursued getting this made for so many years. Piven is charming and stubborn, but also a strong audience surrogate. He’s tremendous here. Likewise, so is Robert Carlyle, who turns in the best work of his career as a character who is both an ally and an enemy, often at the same time. Their scenes together are the highlights of the flick. In addition to a very solid Maimie McCoy, the supporting cast includes Adam Garcia, Isaac Gryn, Lara Wolf, and more.

Shira Piven directs the work, penning the adaptation with Joshua Salzberg, and it’s clear that she’s been building up to this for years. She films everything with confidence, not just of her own abilities, but that the story is worth telling. Piven and Salzberg keep things light when needed, though never shy away from the darkness. The Performance makes fame alluring, even with these stakes, while keeping you identifying with Harold. That’s no small achievement.

The Performance is very good, with some excellent work from Jeremy Piven and Robert Carlyle. Their performances alone are worth checking out, but the whole product is very compelling. This sort of movie can easily fall through the cracks, but everyone involved makes sure that does not happen. Give it a look and you’ll see why.

SCORE: ★★★