The Motive (2017)

Alvaro, an aspiring author without much talent, is at a crossroads in his life. His marriage to his best-selling-author wife falls apart, he is forced on sabbatical from his job, he moves into an apartment, and is given some harsh truth from his writing instructor. Told to observe natural life, he begins taking an interest in his neighbors. And, when there's not enough drama in what he sees, he finds ways to stir the pot.

It's a tantalizing idea that never really soars. Alvaro's character is mostly to blame as he's a blank: I never knew what he was actually thinking and didn't much care. Also, the film ends with a death resulting in Alvaro's imprisonment, but I wasn't clear on who actually committed the crime. Unfortunately, I also wasn't interested enough to go searching for an explanation.

C