I was moderately entertained by this New York-set (in b/w), crisp (86 mins) tale of a 27 year-old, apartment-flitting, aspiring-to-be-professional dancer (refusing to read the contrary signs), whose only constant is her female friend (deeper than her matter-of-fact male relationships), at least that's what she thought until friend Sophie makes a life-changing decision without telling Frances, whose sense of betrayal leaves her temporarily stunned. (Btw: Quite a lot of smoking going on this film, by an almost uniformly young cast.)
In the title role Greta Gerwig, whose name I didn't know (and looking remarkably facially similar at times to Chloe Sevigny) does a pretty good job.
Comparisons have been made with some of Woody Allen's films, but I think that's unfair as it then becomes a judgment of the success, or otherwise, of emulation. However, when it comes to entertainment value there's no doubt in my mind that Allen, at his best, is way superior to this particular film. Even when Allen is not on his best form, his dialogues have a quality of hooking me early on. They have an intellectual 'clout', even when largely improvised, which this film lacked. The script here, though hardly vacuous, had only occasional flashes of memorable character interchange.
Another comparison I've heard mentioned is with Mike Leigh's hugely enjoyable 'Happy-Go-Lucky' in which the marvellous Sally Hawkins plays the irrepressibly optimistic (some might say "maddening"), giggly lead. That was a film I really warmed to and loved. Not so much here. There is a slight resemblance of that film's main role to this Frances' character but it's only a passing one. (I'm not even sure if director/writer Noah Baumbach would even have been aware of Leigh's film.)
A bit better than just 'fair enough', and maybe an undemanding film to wile away part of an afternoon, I award it a.........................6.
Sounds great and just the kind of movie to see to escape the heat!
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen this one yet, but having first seen Greta in "Lola Versus" I can understand the comparison to Allen films. She was a delight and brought to mind one of Allen's proscribed heroines. I am a bit surprised that you neglected to mention Adam Driver in this film. Who can leave the theater and not remember that body?
ReplyDeleteIt all looks very "indie" which I think adds to the appeal. I'll look it up.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip Ray...
I find that I'm now unable to write individual replies to each person's comment - so, in sequence:-
ReplyDeleteJase: Now, even though the heat is past, for the time being, if you are still able to catch this film I wouldn't warn anybody off from seeing it.
Paul: I've just had to look up to see which one Adam Driver was, and I do remember him now. But the only male that caught my eye was Michael Zegen, another name I didn't know.
If the thought that the film is a bit like Woody Allen then that's a further reason to see it, though I wouldn't push the comparison too far. (The b/w certainly makes one think of 'Manhattan', though it's nowhere hear that level of sublimity.)
Craig: Yes, it's very much an 'indie' film. probably only going to the 'art-house' theatres - which is often a signal of it being rather good - or more.
Vraig