@jordyep Just for my own interest, I'm guessing you're not queer? This movie struck me as so compelling and so authentic with the relationship between Lou and Jackie, because I've felt a lot of those same feelings. The plot may not hold up on a rewatch, I don't know yet, obviously, but on first viewing I see absolutely nothing wrong with the movie as a whole.
@somnomania I’m not, but I really liked All of us Strangers from last year and Moonlight is one of my favourite films. I don’t think I have trouble relating to a perspective that’s different from my own, but I don’t know, it just didn’t work for me here.
@jordyep That's fair! Not every movie is for everyone, after all.
Review by JordyVIP 8BlockedParent2024-05-04T22:02:23Z
I'm kinda sick of arthouse films copying the Nicolas Winding Refn aesthetic, but if you're gonna do it this well, I can't complain. Love the synth score and neon aesthetic, it's easily its strongest asset. Unfortunately, the script and overall direction are junk. I feel like it's trying to give you the Brian de Palma/John Carpenter version of something like Bound or Thelma & Louise, and if that sounds like an awkward mix of tones, you'd be right. I really didn't care for the romance that's set-up during the first act due to the awkward dialogue, flat characterization and lack of chemistry between the two leads. Once the crime plot develops, it has a hard time justifying the motivations of characters in a way that doesn't feel contrived or stupid. It gradually becomes more camp as it goes along, but not in a way that I found particularly rewarding. By the time it reaches its conclusion I was laughing at how unapologetically trashy the film gets, leaving any real attempt at substance in the rear view mirror in favour of something more groteseque, which falls completely flat. Leading up to those moments, it kinda feels like the film wants to have it both ways, because it integrates these poorly executed surrealist moments and an underdeveloped theme of female body language that doesn't quite jell with the rest of the plot. It's one of those films that would've benefitted from less pretension and instead focussing on making sure that you care about the central relationship, because the end result here is quite a mess.
4/10