Writer-director Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run) might seem to be an unlikely choice to steer this seemingly pedestrian human drama about an American businessman (Tom Hanks) on the decline who concocts a scheme to reclaim his footing by traveling to Saudi Arabia to pitch an idea to a wealthy monarch. Of course, this Hologram comes from the pen of novelist Dave Eggers, who knows a thing or two about scripts (having written the scripts for Away We Go and Where the Wild Things Are), and features Hanks in the lead, which means that the emotional stakes will be perfectly balanced with a healthy dose of relatable comedy. Smart move, Mr. Tykwer. (Opens Friday at Mariemont Theatre) (PG-13) Not screened in time for review
This article appears in Apr 20-27, 2016.