A couple of months ago, I was surprised to learn that Chris Rock was starring in a feature he wrote and directed. Yet I was even more surprised to learn that he had done this before; it’s been twelve years since Rock last took the director’s chair with 2014’s Top Five. Misty Green, which just premiered at TIFF, marks his first time making a more dramatic film rather than straight comedy. There are still some comedic moments, but it’s clear Rock is aiming for something more serious. 

Misty Green follows Rosalind Eleazar as the titular struggling actress trying to make a big comeback. We find her being kicked out of her beachfront apartment by the late owner’s wife, kicking off a dire sprint to find work and a new place. We see her go through a couple of auditions while also linking up with folks from her past who try to pull her in different directions. Zach (Adam Driver) is ambiguously rich and can offer Misty fun, drugs, and unsavory connections, while Jordan (Chris Rock) is working on a new film that could be the answer she’s been looking for. As if this isn’t enough, she also has to deal with her mentally unstable brother, Jay (Daniel Kaluuya), as he tries to reenter society after a few stints in psychiatric hospitals. 

Misty Green, both the film and the character, has a lot going on. Unfortunately, the unfocused, all-over-the-place script wastes Eleazar’s brilliant performance and a compelling supporting cast. Outside of Misty, Driver’s character, Zach, is by far the most intriguing character in the film that I would have liked to see more of. He’s part film producer, part “entertainment promoter,” bringing girls he meets in the film industry to massive parties with millionaires, promising large sums of money to those who choose to come with him. That whole world is fascinating, but Driver gets only a handful of scenes with this one-dimensional version of the character. As usual, he makes the most of it.

A lot in Misty Green doesn’t work, but one key aspect does. Films following talented people, whether it be comedians, singers, writers, or actors, often expect the audience to assume that the protagonist is, in fact, talented. Films like A Star Is Born (2018) and Is This Thing On? (2025) attempt to show you that their leads are worth the hype to varying degrees, while movies like Late Fame (2025) don’t try as hard to show you their stars performing at a high level. Misty Green both shows you and makes you believe that she is truly talented but has spent decades getting in her own way with drug use and petty qualms. 

There’s an illuminating scene where Misty auditions for a film and crushes it, only for the producers to rant about who is associated with the film and who Misty has wronged, so, through several degrees of separation, she gets eliminated from the casting process regardless of talent. Regardless of how cleaned up Misty gets or how talented she is, there are roadblocks in her way erected over a decade ago based on how she was perceived by someone with decision-making power.

Eleazar gives a very strong performance and, in a different movie, would likely be up for awards contention. She shows a wide range of emotions and has a great singing scene that cements her talent, regardless of what the studio heads think. The film doesn’t serve her well, but she certainly comes out of it innocent.

Misty Green is a mess of an attempt at a serious drama from Rock. It tries to do too much and doesn’t give each element enough time to materialize and be fully effective. There are great performances and an awesome cast all around, but the rest of the movie does little to serve those involved.

Review Courtesy of Cameron K. Ritter

Feature image credit to TIFF