Tag Archives: Anne Hathaway

Film reviews

Mother Mary Review

Leave a comment

This film is like a fantasy where the lines between talent and reality are blurred. The artistic side seems universally magnificent. However, the pacing and characterizations are out of tune. Directed by David Lowery, he creates places of power and love and adds layers of a Kingsman era. Only Mother Mary is strictly female. There are moments of openness which express artistic talent, yet the meaning behind it is tainted. The film combines a mixture of various moments in which nothing gets accomplished. Cinematically wonderful, but the writing side…a flop!

The main characters are Mother Mary (Anne Hathaway) and Sam Anselm (Michaela Coel). The film follows suffering iconic pop star, Mother Mary. She finds herself getting together with her costume designer Sam. Mother Mary is on the verge of regaining her fame by performing. Her costumes and her appearance have elements that she questions. The film becomes an odd and bizarre journey of self-discovery. Unfortunately, I found continuity and creativity lacking.

The film has some imaginative dynamics. In Hathaway’s performance, she portrays a character who is pursuing her destiny by pushing above and beyond. In Coel’s performance, she demonstrates a persistent desire to compete. At the same time, they are both females with interesting creative narratives, and they adequately fit their roles. The dynamics of the film have potential which are not fully harnessed. Specifically, the cinematography and choreography are impressive in parts. The rest of the film…trash! It starts by using wonderful elements and then throws them down the drain.

I am trying to be positive about this film, but it is not easy. I thought the pop and dance stuff would lead to a Black Swan or Moulin Rouge type of experience, but it didn’t. What I got was a film where imagination and a comeback fail to see eye-to-eye. Hathaway’s performance of struggle speaks, but the rest of the film fails to comply. Mother Mary is a pop concert filled with confusion, silliness, and wasted creativity which never delivers. The film does have some scenes with very cool red lighting. In the end, they’re also a waste since this rest is so lacking.

Mother Mary should have built on the cinematography. But the artistry in the characterizations is some of the worst I have seen. I came prepared to appreciate the performances. It is a pity that they fall apart. Two out of four stars for Mother Mary.

Film reviews

Mothers’ Instinct Review

Leave a comment

The title of this film comes to mind as concerning in that it implies a parent senses wrongful or disconcerting matters. Thestoryline vibes with housewives’ scenarios going awry discreetly. Mothers’ Instinct tackles the subject matter on an eerie path. It follows the personalities of two friends who are neighbors. In the wake of a devastating event, a series of detrimental consequences are unleashed. Directed by Benoit Delhomme, Mothers’ Instinct is written with an underlying layer of mistrust guided by red flag patterns.

The plot is centered around the 1950’s time frame. It is set in a time when the husbands are the ones making the dough to provide for families, and the wives are staying home to do the many home duties including taking care of the children. The film focuses on two friends who are also mothers, housewives, and neighbors, and they are Alice (played by Jessica Chastain) and Celine (played by Anne Hathaway). Both are stay-at-home moms with husbands on successful career paths. The happy life of one is disrupted by an upsetting tragedy. That tragic event opens a can of worms with unforeseen consequences in Mothers’ Instinct.

With the term “unforeseen” there is a blur between the film’s line of friendship and trust. This is all in the performances of Chastain and Hathaway and under the direction of Delhomme. The  tragedy has occurred in the life of Celine, and Alice is the one who senses what may have gone wrong in the told scenario is not the full truth. She suspects Celine is detrimental and insane. The characterizations are faithful to the context of knowing little leading to major consequences. Its execution though, not so exhilarating.

In all, a clear context, yet the storyline is a setup around discomfort that does not have value. It only finds itself to create peril through characterizations created by stressful moments. The pattern begins with a fatality, moves on to another detrimental situation, and then continues with even more weird moving parts. A lot of it has to do with the thoughts of a mother wanting to protect her child. The dangerous one is Celine, and the protective one is Alice.  There is a scene that creates a tone for Celine to be unstable, however, the film in and of itself is all “unstable.” It boils down to melancholy with layers of tension and revenge that is not fulfilling or unique.

It soon descends into boredom despite the deception of these two daring mothers. The inner thought of concern is where the line of the film does not get crossed vigorously. Those “inner thoughts” are through the eyes of Alice and Celine. A bipolar disorder that spirals to compete, as both parties go insane on drastic levels of absurdity. It feels meaningless.

I did find that the background of the film’s characterization generates an emphasis on the personalities of its two main characters. The fact that they are the ones at home with their children and have utmost concerns. Overall, though, the motherly side of them is where Mothers’ Instinct is a drag in its mode of creating psychological suspense. The jealousy side and controversial side lacks context. Instead of building a foundation, it flows with a bizarre layout of over-assumptions.Two out of four stars for Mothers’ Instinct.

Film reviews

The Idea of You

Leave a comment

Anne Hathaway plays a mother in this film with the same and laid-back personality type from her days as a teen actress. The Idea of You is a lighthearted romance film where there is an emphasis on meaning.  Hathaway’s role is the main point of interest of the film. The Idea of You challenges love at first sight, but also makes its audience consider the risks with any other type of relationship. Especially when one of the individuals is very high profile. Hathaway fits the role of an innocent and wonderful mom extremely well in The Idea of You.

Hathaway plays Solene, a single mother who owns an art gallery. Her daughter is Izzy (played by Ella Rubin). Solene mostly keeps to herself and thrives in her life of art with her studio. One day, she is forced to go with her daughter to see a boy band called August Moon, as her ex-husband couldn’t make it and she must fill in for his absence. While there, Solene steps into a random trailer, and runs into Hayes Campbell (played by Nicholas Galitzine). Hayes is the lead singer of August Moonand is extremely famous at this point in life. From there, a relationship of love and connection develops rapidly. Solene is in her forties and Hayes is twenty-four. The age-gap in therelationship is emphasized with enticing music as a backdrop to it all. However, the high-profile life of Hayes is where risks can come around for both Solene, Hayes, and others around them. Does their relationship truly have a form of connectivity? What is the benefit for Solene? What is the benefit for Hayes? Despite, the consequences, it is an adventurous love where boundaries are out the window.

Despite all of the deep consequences of this love affair, there remains a sensible side of appreciation in The Idea of You. The thrill of new love, the risks, and the many types of attention surrounding the age-gap of the relationship create a feel-good film with groovy thrills. Audiences want goodness in Hathaway’s and Galitzine’s performances. The “groovy thrills” come with the age-gap, the celebrity vibes surrounding the questionable relationship, and the love both have for one another…despite the uncertainty of where it will lead them.

When it comes to how moving parts play out in the heat of this unconventional relationship, The Idea of You paints an honest portrait of how this type of situation really goes. The fact of Hayes getting with a lady who is much older than him will impact his image and fame, and this same situation puts a label on Solene. There is a boiling point where their relationship becomes too hard to  maintain as a hidden one. The disruption ofdaily routines and the impact of general uncertainty of the future draw the line in The Idea of You as the lover’s grapple with the question of what takes precedence—fame or love?

With all the mixed feelings coming to a boiling point in The Idea of You, the seriousness of true connectivity is spot-on. Hathaway’s performance is on the most heartwarming level I have seen in a while. Her tone of empathy is seen in her brilliant eyes as she says, “I’m too old for you.” That quote emphasizes that despite knowing what the hearts wants and cannot have, it still craves a form of feeling love…no matter how big or small.

The overwhelming aspect throughout the film remains in thefact that Hayes has tons of fame. His is a life of wealthiness in a world of talent and contracts. A world where many are obsessed with him, and he has more money than he can spend. Does he get enough individualized attention? No, he does not.  This is what Solene provides for him when she is in his presence. It is something all of his money and fame cannot buy him. Falling in love, keeping a secret, having turmoil, and reconnecting—that is the pattern of relationship and resilience in The Idea of You. Three-and-a-half out of four stars.