Suburbicon is a perfect town where there is no crime and everyone is happy. That is until the African-American Myers family move in and upset the residents who are all for integration, just not here. This outrage of indecency though is a distraction to the crimes being committed across the road in the home of Gardner Lodge (Matt Damon). Following a home invasion Lodge’s wife dies, but her twin sister (both Julianne Moore) quickly steps into her shoes and talk of insurance money comes to the fore.

The talent involved in Suburbicon is second to none, so it is a shame to report that it is a dire film. Directed by George Clooney from a script by him, his writing partner Grant Heslov and the Coen Brothers and starring Damon and Moore this should have been a guarantee of quality rather than the failure it is. Essentially there are two poorly realised films merged together here. The insurance con feels as though it should be a screwball comedy, but is not funny and never meets the quirky nature of the Coens. The racial drama, which feels incredibly prescient right now with the alt-right movement, is under-written and feels wasted.

The con aspect of the film is an old Coen script that they never used. Fargo is clearly where this idea eventually ended up. Where as the racial drama is Clooney and Heslov’s addition and is actually based on fact. It is a shame, because it feels like we have a film considered not of the right standard joined to a film that should have been given greater thought and gravitas. I understand the message Clooney is trying to convey, but it does not work.

The only point the film seems to click and raise a smile is a small cameo from Oscar Isaac. An insurance claim investigator with a glint in his eye and as with Clooney and Moore someone who has been in a Coen film.