Review: ‘Someone Else’ leaves its audience somewhat less than impressed

Those taking in “Someone Else,” an unconvincing, nonlinear drama about a pair of dramatically different Korean American cousins who are attracted to the same woman, will soon likely be wishing they had chosen to watch something else.

Arriving in New York City, Jamie (Aaron Yoo), a timid, recently engaged law student, temporarily moves in with his hotshot investor cousin, Will (Leonardo Nam) for the summer, filled with hope for a fresh start in life. But, in his awkward attempts to come out of his shell, proceeds to undergo a drastic, cocaine-fueled personality change.

Or does he?

Clocking in at a scant 72 minutes, this debut feature by Nelson Kim, which loosely takes its inspiration from Claude Chabrol’s 1959 sophomore effort, “Les Cousins,” admittedly makes some perceptive, rarely seen observations regarding the subject of Asian American male identity.

But while slickly photographed by Ming Kai Leung, the narrative’s trick construction inevitably feels more like a self-conscious directing-class assignment than an engaging drama, populated by unsympathetic characters that are played by actors — including newcomer Jackie Chung in a dual role — who haven’t quite figured out how to credibly inhabit them.

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“Someone Else.”

No rating.

Running time: 1 hour, 12 minutes.

Playing: Arena Cinema, Hollywood.