GENRE:
Drama, Suspense
RATING:
R for sexuality, violence and language
RUNTIME:
2 hours and 3 minutes
PLATFORM:
Crave
STARRING:
Florence Pugh (Black Widow, Little Women,
Midsommar)
Harry Styles (Dunkirk, Eternals);
Chris Pine (Star Trek, Wonder Woman)
DIRECTOR:
Olivia Wilde (Booksmart)
WRITER:
Katie Silberman (Booksmart, Isn’t It
Romantic)
PLOT:
A 1950s housewife questions the secrets behind her experimental utopian
community.
FULL DISCLOSURE: Their press junket delayed my interest in the film.
STORY STUFF: The story is pretty Stepford Wives-ish. The seemingly perfect society with a dark underbelly is a pretty common trope; they play it well and the truth is pretty twisted. Unfortunately, I think seeing this type of story recently in WandaVision and Get Out, took me a bit out of this film. Most of the sensuality in the beginning is understandable in the context of the film but it might make some blush (there’s no nudity though).
ACTING STUFF: Pugh is spellbinding as Alice. She is full of passion, emotion and energy. She kind of reminds me of Kate Winslet at times. Pine is also engaging with his smugness as the ruler of this utopian society. The jury is still out on Styles – he has some great moments but I think some other actors could have done just as well. I enjoyed seeing comedian Nick Kroll doing something different.
ARTISTIC STUFF: There is so much 50s music in this film. The first hour is almost back to back. I really enjoyed the production value of the houses and the neighborhood. The cinematography is pretty top-notch as well. I’m impressed with Wilde’s ambitious follow-up to Booksmart.
VERDICT:
Three stars out of five
SEE IT IF:
You like the 50s and seeing someone exposing the truth.
UPCOMING REVIEW: Avatar 2?, Glass Onion
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