It’s a real crime that Jeff Daniels doesn’t have more awards on his mantle. To date, he’s never won an Academy Award, or even been nominated for one. Throughout his career, he’s done Oscar-worthy work on multiple occasions, but the Academy has repeatedly snubbed him. Now, showcasing his talents in a whole new way, Daniels is not just starring in a high quality new independent movie, he’s written it as well. Guest Artist, now in limited release and coming to VOD next week, is not just a great vehicle for Daniels (which it decidedly is), but a moving character study with a hell of an ending, to boot. The film is a dramedy, pitting a grizzled veteran playwright in a battle of the mental wills with a young and optimistic fan. Joseph Harris (Daniels) spends his days in New York mostly drunk, avoiding turning in his latest work. Set to be put up in a small Michigan town, the disillusioned Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright arrives in the burg, hating every moment. There, he’s picked up at the train station by Kenneth Waters (Thomas Macias) and aspiring playwright in town who absolutely idolizes him. Late to pick up Joseph, he and Kenneth get off on the wrong foot, with the former filibustering in the station about the state of the world. Eventually, however his deep cynicism about his career and world-weary nature, as well as potentially his artistic insecurity, is challenged by Kenneth. The result is surprising and quite moving. Timothy Busfield directs a script that Daniels wrote himself, with cinematography by Wilson Coates Busfield, while Ben Daniels composes the score. Supporting players in the small cast include McKara Bechler, Richard McWilliams, and Erika Slezak, among others. Jeff Daniels is riveting here. Not only is his performance among his very best, the screenplay has echoes of Aaron Sorkin to it. The way he makes his protagonist both deeply damaged and also incredibly compelling is something to behold. Any and all of his monologues are captivating, and while Thomas Macias’ foil is clearly meant to hold sway with you, as he’s the kind character, Daniels so consistently upstages him, your attention is never broken. In fact, during one sequence, when Macias has center stage and Daniels is largely off screen, the pacing is broken. Now, the scene itself, where Kenneth spends time at a store with a girl he used to briefly date, […]