Written & Directed By: Sarah Polley
Cinematography By: Luc Montpellier
Editor: Christopher Donaldson
Cast: Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Sara Silverman, Luke Kirby, Jennifer Podemski
A happily married woman falls for the artist who lives across the street.
The film seems to go for a 1970’s slice of life quality while also having some quirks. Though it has a certain quality about it. It doesn’t ultimately save the film. Which plays o ff more as a woman trying to find herself and a little definition. I applaud Sarah Polley for the film especially after her excellent Debut. She obviously likes to take her time with her stories and characters. I just feel the film is a little too light and needed to have more definition like the main character seeks throughout the film.
The film feels drawn out and making it unbearably slow. it takes it time is understandable to not rush the action and let the character take their time to make decisions instead of just making rash ones that would more or less damn or give them an excuse depending on how you look at it.
I read the script and when I did I found the script enlightening and a journey that was fun and interesting. Watching the film it felt more like it was dragging maybe this would have worked better as literature as you can understand things a bit more. Here watching it so much is unsaid that really doesn’t need to but it just feels like the character are biding their time.
The script made it look more like a star crossed lover thing meeting each other at the right place and the right time maybe it was fate and you could understand the courting and the romance. Here it seems more random. Also the most interesting character is Sara Silverman’s I was much more interested in her characters journey and life then the main couple. I wish it could have been parallel or made her the main story and the deteriorating marriage a side story.
The script for this film was on the blacklist of the years most recommended unmade scripts. When I read the script. I felt it was illuminating and understandable characters who were relateable and felt real. The drama felt more homegrown and intense minors that kept building.
Watching the film directed by the screenwriter also actress Sarah Polley. The film felt like more of a lifetime movie. The script which was specific made the film Feel vague. It’s a shame as powerful with a light touch as her debut film AWAY FROM HER was.
I will say she wisely offset Expectations by giving Actors more know for comedic roles, Dramatic roles to show off their range and give them and the film a certain nuance.
Sarah Polley wrote the role of Lou for Seth Rogen.
It had too much quirk which could have worked, but only made the film feel more like a fable or dream within a certain reality. Though the story felt more like a 1970's realism slice of life revolving around characters.
The other characters had inner lives in the script. Here it's more like they are sketches. I think it's more that the cast play and have the characters and their histories down. It's just that they are not allowed to get to be known as the film is set to the story and it's outreach. --The ending in the script felt right in the film. It could have ended at 3 - 5 different points and still made an impact.
The film is a disappointment especially considering how good the screenplay Is and how much I liked it
What is ultimately disappointing about the film is that the film doesn't feel as assured and deep as her previous film.
The film does make the characters believable. Though we only get glimpses of them as we watch so many scenes define Michelle Williams Character leaving the rest of the characters to be revealed only through relation and situations involved with her character.
The film presents her as virtually an orphan with no family that through her marriage has practically been adopted by her husbands family and her pulling away from them causes damage with some members and shows us what she would lose if ever leaving him.
An interesting character in this film is the character of Daniel as he is the temptation of hers he is that one of a kind movie invention of being perfect without any flaws and totally open to anything and everything he is basically the male version of the Manic pixie dream girl. Where he seems only around for the film to move Forward cause some conflict but ultimately be there to nurture and romance the lead as a unconventional yet pretty perfect soul mate for them. Who stays no matter the abuse or rejection of the person as well as no matter how much the person abuses themselves after all that is the attraction, which really is an open vulnerability to use as a way in.
Which is to say he is the more exciting freewheeling version of her husband who practically worship his wife, but that isn't enough for her as she seems bored or unchallenged by him. The excuse seems to be he settled and married too young before getting experiences she desired.
It would be easy to say, At times it feels sexist where as of a male wrote this film. It would be looked down upon as misogynistic and here seems more to be female empowerment by the end truly the film isn't a romantic fantasy, but a domestic drama that touches upon subjects. Yet never goes as deep as it could. Smoothing the edges it feels as any times it comes close to delving into a certain deepness.
Sarah Silverman is memorable in particular in the rare dramatic role which she does believably and truly creates and illustrates a tragic character who can probably never truly be fixed despite having it all and numerous attempts.
Part of the problem is that her husband is so sweet and nice. The films makes it seem like she longs for something and it is hard to feel sympathetic for her as though she has a bit of history her character comes off as bored and selfish. I realize that is how it probably happens in life. It would have just been better if we could understand her frustration with her husband. Instead of just leaving him as the victim,
The film also could have ended a lot earlier there were many points the film could have ended and had a deeper impact. Though it helps fill out the story I guess that is why it kept going.
Michelle Williams can always be counted on for a good performance and she doesn’t disappoint here, but the usually Comedic Seth Rogen and Sara Silverman are truly amazing with the depth of their characters they really pull off and move in the dramatic scenes and give their characters a inner life not always presented in the film. --There is nothing wrong with the filmmaking I only wish the film wouldn’t have been as vague as it feels. It seems to have an outline but has a really big problem filling in the middle and being distinct.
SPOILER ALERT
I guess it is a bitter ending as she kind of got what she deserved. After all of her actions she realizes what she gave up. Though it puts a happy face on it. To me it really boils down to her rebelling against conformity since she didn’t seem to have a childhood and through her romance with him and the unorthodox way of life and love with him. She was able to live out her impulses that most get out of college, It Felt like a college romance as it starts out like they are long lost lovers but in the end he seems to have just gotten frustrated when he couldn’t have what he wanted and got really dramatic to lure her.
I guess it proved to me my theory about young good looking men who always get what they want and when they can’t revert to being infants. Then once they have it get bored. Also she should have known his character was untrustworthy as he seemed to be impestious which attracted her in the first place which ultimately lead to her downfall.
SPOILER END
I might be being a bit harsh due to having read the screenplay before the film and hoping things would get worked out and that the film would resemble what I read and come closer to those themes. It was on the blacklist after all.
Wait for Cable.
GRADE: C+
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