Written & Directed By: Ana Lily Amirpour Cinematography: Pawel Pogorzelski Editor: Taylor Levy
Cast: Kate Hudson, Jun Jong Seo, Craig Robinson, Ed Skrein, Jennifer Vo, Charlie Talbert
A girl with unusual powers escapes from a mental asylum and tries to make it on her own in New Orleans.
It feels like you are watching an MTV series in film form or at least an MTV production film that managed to make it to theaters. Trying to be a hodgepodge of culture and trends from the 1990sEspecially as the story seems more told in visuals and its soundtrack which is more of a club mix. That comes across like a video game soundtrack. Then story or written dialogue.
As you watch the film it feels like we are traveling through a wonderland with the main character. Where we never know what is going to happen next. Now if only the story matched the vividness and richness of the visuals.
Kate Hudson is the true star here. As she is one of the people who take in the main character, eventually more to exploit her powers. The hustler that Hudson decides to play with a kind of street east coast accent. She is playing more of the gritty side of the film.
As the film almost feels a bit more built around her. As she is truly the anchor and the only character who has stakes in the whole film. Which itself feels like it has very few. Hudson has the showier tile and she puts in the work to be convincing. It seems like she belongs in a much harsher film or like she is visiting from one. Think LAST EXIT TO BROOKLYN.
Ed Skrien ends up playing the opposite. A character you expect to be trouble and gritty, but ends up being the most chill and helpful street guy. Who happens to deal drugs on occasion.
The film is not a thriller or even science fiction fantasy action film that you might expect with the premise. It’s, it’s own creature, an oddly original fairy tale for grown up’s. A mature storybook adventure through somewhat innocent eyes
The film is directed well, one just wishes the script was stronger. As the film seems to wander.
What is refreshing is that the film doesn’t go anywhere you expect it to considering how dark and exploitive the atmosphere it revels In. Which might be why it feels more like a fantasy.
The filmmaker feels like she tries too hard to make this film into an instant cult film instead of letting them be original and then age In
It all comes down to the end not judging a book by its Cover. As most of the characters appear to be what you think they will be they also offer another side that is I related to the look or fashions they cover themselves with
Grade: C
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