GRETA (2019)

Directed By: Neil Jordan 
Written By: Ray Wright & Neil Jordan 
Story By: Neil Jordan 
Cinematography: Seamus McGarvey 
Editor: Nick Emerson 

Cast: Isabelle Huppert, Chloe Grace Moritz, Makia Monroe, Zawe Ashton, Stephen Rea, Colm Feore, Thaddeus Daniels 


Frances , a sweet, naïve young woman trying to make it on her own in New York City, doesn't think twice about returning the handbag she finds on the subway to its rightful owner. That owner Greta, an eccentric French piano teacher with a love for classical music and an aching loneliness. Having recently lost her mother, Frances quickly grows closer to widowed Greta. The two become fast friends - but Greta's maternal charm begin to dissolve and grow increasingly disturbing as Frances discovers that nothing in Greta's life is what it seems.


This is a surprisingly little film that seems to come from nowhere’s kind of like it’s title character. Only the title character becomes more interesting though the reasons the film gives feel like a stretch.

Considering the talent involved this film should be so much better and involving. As it is it feels thin, trite and way too small a tale. It would work more as a newcomers first film or a 1980’s movie that needs to be more blown out. As it is more of an Art house version of a b-movie thriller

The film just feels uncomfortable not in a disorienting way, but in a way where you hope the story opens up and becomes Bigger or at least more interesting.

It comes off as a little obvious and though it gets crazier it manages to still stay within a certain perimeter as it feels like the craziness was only added to have it all make sense (and wake up the audience) or that the early scenes were creating a base for the disturbing stuff later.

Chloe Grace Moretz is perfectly fine in her role, but she still looks too young for the part.

Isabelle huppert being cast in this movie already lets you know this will get crazy. As she is a fearless actress. Who is known for roles like this. If they really wanted to throw us off a bit they should have cast Charlotte Rampling. Though this movie seems specifically written for her. A chance for the director to work with her and more expose her to American audiences. As well as make a little thriller that might be able to scare up an audience.

There is much to be said if a movie making the star of the movie an older female actress and making her be the one with all the power and being In control when society tries to usually brush them aside or make them feel inconsequential.

As Isabelle Huppert She can play this role in her sleep but she provides enough energy and nerve on her performance to help keep the film afloat. You only wish she was in a better film. In fact you wish everyone was. As I am a fan of most of them especially director Neil Jordan.

The film has a certain European flavor to it. Though keeps feeling rather cold and clinical.

Set to be a kind of New york story even though it was filmed in ireland The film isn’t horrible but feels disappointing overall. It Just comes Across as too small scale for the size of the production.

GRADE: C