I was only about halfway through this festival when Patrick Coyle’s "Into Temptation" snuck up on me unexpectedly, but I couldn’t imagine seeing a more precise, thoughtful or involving film for the remainder of the fest (and, as it turns out, I didn’t). Starring Jeremy Sisto (CSI) and Brian Baumgartner (The Office), two of television’s most underrated actors, "Into Temptation" follows the journey of Father John Buerlein (Sisto) as he attempts to save a mysterious prostitute (Kristin Chenoweth) who has come to him for penance, revealing that she's just days away from ending her own life.
Coyle crafts his film tightly yet unveils it methodically, layering clues like breadcrumbs for the audience to follow as Father John delves deeper into a seedy underworld of lust and seduction. Though admittedly not on the same level, "Into Temptation" occasionally reminded me of some of Hitchcock’s classic films, with the purpose-driven man tailing the mysterious blonde, in pursuit of the truth.
The pacing here is just right, the writing succinct, and Coyle displays a steady hand as director, all the more impressive since he's a relatively new filmmaker ("Into Temptation" is his second feature film). Coyle is confident in his story and his actors, and he does well to stand back and let the film develop organically. It’s execution is almost the exact opposite of John Patrick Shanley's highly-stylized "Doubt" from last year, which was all tilted angles and dramatic orchestral swells. Like "Doubt," Coyle's "Into Temptation" is set within the Catholic Church, but comes across as much more modest and subtly transfixing. More importantly, it feels authentic, more genuine and satisfying than anything else I caught at Newport Beach this year. SEE IT.
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INTO TEMPTATION