David Sims: “*Mother* *Mary* begins with a straightforward problem: The titular character, a pop star played by Anne Hathaway, is looking for a showstopper of a dress. But the complications quickly stack up. Mary needs it made over the weekend; she needs it to serve as the centerpiece of her career relaunch after a long and mysterious absence from the public eye; most crucially, she needs it designed by her former collaborator Sam Anselm (played by Michaela Coel), from whom she’s been estranged for years. When Mary storms into Sam’s office with her demand, Sam calmly replies that it’s impossible, unless the singer is somehow able to stop time. Mary raises her hand, snaps her fingers in the air, and pronounces it done.
“If only it were so simple—but Mary, the viewer understands, is someone who has spent most of her adulthood defying the laws of reality. How else to define the life of a superstar, someone who bends everyone else’s needs around her own in order to satisfy the millions of fans awaiting her next move? David Lowery’s beguiling new film tackles the majesty and toxicity of that kind of fame, pitting a now-needy Mary against Sam, a former friend who has renounced the stress of being in Mary’s orbit. That interplay is juicy enough, but Lowery stirs something supernatural into the mix, creating a story that is both deeply sincere and quite surreal.”
Having seen the premiere yesterday with a follow-up Q&A, it’s…. Fine.
I can’t deny though that this wasn’t for me. Felt like I was watching a more haunting version of The Phantom Thread. The acting is pretty well done, but the stakes weren’t really there for me so I was admittedly just going through the motions with this film and trying to get myself entertained.
I’d recommend this if you understand or are interested in how fashion and pop culture intertwine together. If not, this is gonna be a bit of a chore to get through
Gerry1of1 on
I miss the days when a review was just a quick “Two thumbs up”. Not a 3 page dissertation on the films commentary of social norms or some other bullshit, overthought essay written by someone who like to read his own stuff.
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David Sims: “*Mother* *Mary* begins with a straightforward problem: The titular character, a pop star played by Anne Hathaway, is looking for a showstopper of a dress. But the complications quickly stack up. Mary needs it made over the weekend; she needs it to serve as the centerpiece of her career relaunch after a long and mysterious absence from the public eye; most crucially, she needs it designed by her former collaborator Sam Anselm (played by Michaela Coel), from whom she’s been estranged for years. When Mary storms into Sam’s office with her demand, Sam calmly replies that it’s impossible, unless the singer is somehow able to stop time. Mary raises her hand, snaps her fingers in the air, and pronounces it done.
“If only it were so simple—but Mary, the viewer understands, is someone who has spent most of her adulthood defying the laws of reality. How else to define the life of a superstar, someone who bends everyone else’s needs around her own in order to satisfy the millions of fans awaiting her next move? David Lowery’s beguiling new film tackles the majesty and toxicity of that kind of fame, pitting a now-needy Mary against Sam, a former friend who has renounced the stress of being in Mary’s orbit. That interplay is juicy enough, but Lowery stirs something supernatural into the mix, creating a story that is both deeply sincere and quite surreal.”
Read more: [https://theatln.tc/iC2AgwCv](https://theatln.tc/iC2AgwCv)
Having seen the premiere yesterday with a follow-up Q&A, it’s…. Fine.
I can’t deny though that this wasn’t for me. Felt like I was watching a more haunting version of The Phantom Thread. The acting is pretty well done, but the stakes weren’t really there for me so I was admittedly just going through the motions with this film and trying to get myself entertained.
I’d recommend this if you understand or are interested in how fashion and pop culture intertwine together. If not, this is gonna be a bit of a chore to get through
I miss the days when a review was just a quick “Two thumbs up”. Not a 3 page dissertation on the films commentary of social norms or some other bullshit, overthought essay written by someone who like to read his own stuff.