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@the_owlseyes
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“Wolves attack the hindquarters of prey first, biting into the animal's meaty rump or ham. They stay away from the tendons near the hooves. People hamstring wolves, wolves do not hamstring prey. Hard, sharp, and lethal, hooves are the last things wolves want near their heads. They aim for the flanks, grasping for a hold in the large muscles, hoping to bring the mammal down. A trip, a stumble, a fall, and the wolves go for the throat. The animals in the rear begin feasting as their partners crush and remove the herbivore's windpipe.”
Jon T. Coleman, Vicious: Wolves and Men in America
Who is the good guy?
PLOT
"A young woman, traumatized by a tragic event in her past, seeks out vengeance against those who crossed her path" or "Joker meets the #MeToo movement".
SCRIPT
It's a movie intended to be female empowering. I like the fact that the concept of sexual predator is flipped and makes us ask ourselves if we're really good people. It isn't only about men but also about women. This movie condemns who perpetrate the rape and who stands there doing nothing, almost endorsing it. The movie is pretty realistic and, unlike most of the feminist's movies, don't take sides but tries to be as objective as possible. The protagonist's violence isn't glamourized and the ending shows that all of his actions have real consequences. Maybe Cassie is an hyperbolized version of some girls who take revenges against rapists, but it works well as an empowering character. It's sad to see that the only hopeful character in this movie doesn't get to be happy.
Here there's a lot of attention and care to details, which pays off in the ending. The fact that they've able to slip in a transgender woman in a subtle way, without making her sexuality her main trait.
None has an arch and the movie is intended to be like that, but the main characters are interesting, even though they aren't explored this much. In fact the plot here is pretty thin but it isn't a problem because it revolves around its concept.
It's above most of the feminist movies but it isn't the best one in terms of script.
Script: 8/10
ACTING
Everyone does a great job here, but Carey Mulligan is the best one. She's able to act as different people with such an ease. I like when she lets her character show her darker, more wicked side. She never overacts and this performance is what makes this movie special. With this movie she showed us that she's able to play characters which are very different. This way she distances herself from his role as a tender, sweet and shy woman in The Great Gatsby and Drive.
Bo Burnham is pretty good in his supporting role and I think that he should receive more credit for it. But it's understable to put him in the background, after all it's hard to do better than Mulligan. The other actors do a good job, especially Alison Brie, but I haven't anything more to say about them.
The acting is remarkable overall.
Acting: 8/10
PHOTOGRAPHY
There're a lot of good shots here. I want to say that the last one makes me think about The Shining. Lights and shadows are relevant, as well as colours. The movie is brighter when the protagonist is experiencing good emotions and it dims a bit when she dwells into dark ones. Shots which are usually used to represent attractive women are subverted, as well as the ones which represent masculinity. I liked it, even though it isn't the best I've ever seen.
Photography: 7/10
EDITING
There's a lot of symbolism here. The first scene is framed to expose the male gaze in contrast with the female gaze. It's hilarious and I think that's ingenious. There's a scene which implies the fact that the protagonist might be good, framing her like Mary the Virgin. The rest of the movie has good editing but most of the scenes aren't as remarkable as they seem. It's above average but it isn't particularly special.
Editing: 7/10
SPECIAL EFFECTS
There's a lack of it to keep the movie as grounded as possible. Sure, there's a bit of VFX but nothing particularly impressive. A bit of green screen here and there but t isn't noticeable. Nothing more to say about it.
Special Effects: 6/10
SOUNDTRACK
Instrumental music and pop songs are well alternated to create what I consider a good soundtrack. The first one is perfect, because it's dreadful and gripping. Tension is present almost in every scene and it works, because it makes the protagonist unpredictable and threatning. Pop music is pretty and on point. I think that it works because makes the movie more appealing for younger people and helps to convey some ideas, which respect the scenes theme. I think that the one below is the best one.
Soundtrack: 7/10
COSTUMES
The protagonist wears different costumes to adapt them to the personality which is required to have. Sure, they aren't particularly interesting, but they works well in the movie. I like the fact that their colour is linked to the emotions showed by her, like love in the image below. The last scene present a, I don't know if I'm misreading it, nod to Harley Quinn, who is considered a symbol of the #MeToo movement and of the LGBTQ+. The last costume is the only one which has a symbolic meaning which is linked to the plot. It isn't enough to say that this section is above average, but it isn't mediocre.
Costumes: 7/10
CONCLUSION
Script: 8/10
Acting: 8/10
Photography: 7/10
Editing: 7/10
Special Effects: 6/10
Soundtrack: 7/10
Costumes: 7/10
AVERAGE: 7,14
A competent movie made of a great script and beatiful performances. It's a clever movie which is able to be entertaining and empowering with ease. There're some flaws but nothing particularly bad. I think that you have to see it to understand something about our reality. Something which is sinister and we doesn't want to talk about, because it's uncomfortable.
Director: Emerald Fennell
Screenplay: Emerald Fennell
Cast: Carey Mulligan, Bo Burnham, Alison Brie, Clancy Brown, Jennifer Coolidge, Laverne Cox, Connie Britton
Soundtrack: Anthony Willis
Cinematography: Benjamin Kračun
Running Time: 113 minutes
Budget: $7.5 million
By @the_owlseyes
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