BORDERLINE (2025)

 

Written & Directed By: Jimmy Warden 

Cinematography: Michael Alden Lloyd 

Editor: Joe Galdo 

Cast: Samara Weaving, Ray Nicholson, Eric Dane, Alba Baptista, Jimmie Fails, Patrick Cox, Yasmeen Kelders, Catherne Lough Hoggquist, April Cameron 

A world-famous pop star is taken hostage in her Los Angeles home by an obsessed fan who believes they are destined to marry. As he transforms her house into a twisted wedding venue, she must rely on her bodyguard to escape before it's too late.

This film is frustrating for everything that makes it interesting and entertaining 

This film has it’s moments and you need the connective tissue between them that helps them stand out all the 

More, but getting there is can be a chore at times

As the film does have  the goods but for every strength there is an equal weakness that disturbs the vibe and flow of the film. it seems like it needed to be worked on a bit more.

So that it becomes a film Of scenes that stand out, but you however suffer to get there through the Mundane. Though written and directed by Samara weaving’s husband, Jimmy Warden. It seems like the film is meant to showcase her and his filmmaking skills the only people who this film truly showcases is Alba Baptista and Ray Nicholson as the villains perse.

They unfortunately are the only interesting characters who make the material and characters come alive. As weaving’s character becomes more a background character that this is all Done for and then we find it not necessarily as she becomes a symbol. As she might not exactly be his obsession or focus.

Even throughout the film She Has only been presented as basic and real not so glamourous. You can tell that this is loosely based on Madonna as even having an athlete boyfriend who seems to cross dress and wear makeup is obviously based on Dennis Rodman. So it offers little clues as to the real life story that it’s based on while making the characters their own but familiar.

Though in truth this kind of role seems to be Ray Nicholson’s Bread and butter these days crazy ex’s and boyfriends 

The film has all the right music ques and the soundtrack is very good. Which helps create the vibe for the film and especially certain scenes and performances. 

As it constantly Tries to save itself but it comes across as confused chaos. 

There is So much potential for a dark comedy  that feels familiar and doesn’t  Cover any new bases but offers a different view and outlook. That comes across with a few scenes meant to

Shock. Though tries to be quirky throughout it’ cynical attitude. 

it's Disjointed when it wants timckem across as

Planned, with style over substance in its own ways of short hand, making something easily to describe in a single sentence or statement, you could easily go into what we mean by that as we sometimes have to explain ourselves, but sometimes the product in which you’re watching isn’t worthy necessarily of explanation or it’s not that it’s not worthy you just don’t wanna go put that much energy into why you say it, though most will understand sometimes that extra energy is put in there to help explain as you want to go into detail of its virtues as they are worth it but also wanna warn about its weaknesses

in the end, the film seems undercooked in certain places, but then in other places, it’s overcooked so that it never matches itself when it comes to coming all together or completion. so that it could never truly be all that satisfying for the audience. As the overcooked parts seem to be trying to make up for the undercooked parts or both need to be brought together in a middle ground that keeps them on each other‘s wavelength at least. It’s a nice attempt.

This is a film only  can see be discussed at length. Especially as it finds more of an audience. Some will love it, some will hate it. It reminds one of a kind of passion project that could have been made in the 80’s or 90’s more then modern times. Where it feels already a little outdated. 

At least it’ not a film trying to say something about fame. 

Grade: C