straggler

I consider myself pretty sophisticated and a big fan of film but even I was like holy shit. And I had an inkling of what was coming.

I think this is precisely the type of film that grows in stature. But regardless she nailed one of the most challenging, intense, dark roles you will ever see. Having a fully realized career means working with directors like Aronofsky and saying the heck with it. This was a great performance that even haters have to acknowledge. It was Paramount's decision to do a wide release for an auteur film but there were no easy choices. The one thing that I think was a mistake was the whole air of mystery. This movie works better spoiled imho, considered as an art piece or parable. It is a second viewing movie. I went in with a pretty good sense of what it was and so I was engrossed by the artistry and the nerve of it. But an unsuspecting audience won't know what hit them.

Ah. The magical pixie dust theory of stardom again. Joy did not get the reviews, suffered from serious DOR fatigue and an American Hustle inspired backlash and made $54 million and scored a best actress nomination. Passengers had bad reviews and made $300 WW. So who exactly would have done better? The constant in all these films is that Jlaw gave a great performance. Some films work, some don't. Mother! is one of the craziest films a studio has ever made. It is called taking a risk, and regardless of how it works out her performance is so strong it pays off in the end.

Jlaw was the MVP. Pfeiffer was good but it was Jlaw's show. I think she pulled off an Oscar caliber performance in as dark a movie as it is possible to make while playing completely against her supposed type. This type of role helps a career regardless of short term reactions. Maybe she envisions a career making serious, auteur films. If so good for her.

Starts as confusion. Then rage. Then contemplation. Then appreciation. Then love.

But you are not being creative. You should have gone out to the unsuspecting multiplex with a camera and taped audience reactions. Kind of like the Red Wedding. People walking out in a huff.

I think mother! is a brilliant film. But maybe one scene in particular should have been done more abstractly. I get that this scene goes to the "message" of the movie. But there are ways in retrospect to do it more suggestively. Not the same reaction, but easier on basic audiences.

You should start a class action lawsuit.

Isn't cinenascore only surveying like 200 people? Anyway, this is the full Aronofsky. I'm still smiling having watched it. Holy shit. Of course that final act would get hated. Damn. Great, great stuff.

There are always factors, but with the HGs you had to get Katniss right. There was no escapism to fall back on and in the first one it is often just her alone in the woods. I'd give her a ton of credit. Her talent/charisma was very much part of why that series succeeded while others fell flat.

If you like classic films you will probably like it. I'm glad I saw it. Seeing it again.

I know. All those divisive reviews, half calling it a brilliant film, half the worst film ever.

LOL. But this definitely reminds me of how Clockwork and the Shining were received.

Takes some significant art to piss people off like that.

Nah. She is getting best in career reviews, Oscar caliber performance reviews even from critics who dislike the movie. (Well maybe nor Rex Reed, but whatever). This is the type of film that pays dividends. Haters may not like the movie, but the performance is all in. A few years down the line people revisit a film like this. And a performance like this. A nice deposit in the career bank as the WSJ noted.

Very spoilery. Be forewarned.

That is a future classic you are talking about. SMH.

Rex Reed labeled this the worst movie of the century. Future classic confirmed.

I saw a zero star review. Very divisive film.

Helps to be a cinephile. We will not see something like this anytime soon. It was jaw-droppingly insane. Still amazed someone made this.

Depends on awards.

Love vs. Hate. Sounds appropriate.

I don't think it is completely idiotic. I just think the mainstream critics have not figured out how to work with it or really understand their function in the world of critic aggregator sites. I have read a lot of very positive sounding reviews (eg The Washington Post review, the WSJ review) that are very positive but express reservations and they end up "rotten". The same as a Mall Cop movie. If you think a film is artistically worthwhile but flawed, that should be a net "fresh" review. This film would always present challenges for critics, but they never see the bigger picture.

I commend her for taking a risk. She is a target. The big female stars generally are. This is an insane film. I don't love Paramount's release strategy or marketing, but there are not a lot of good choices with this type of film. Jlaw took on an extremely risky, controversial project. Even without Fox News attacking her left and right (20th Century Fox must be thrilled Re: Red Sparrow), she knew this film would not be an easy sell at the box office. But she did it anyway. And in the long run it will pay dividends for her career. But in the short term trolls and haters can bray.

As long as they are real reviewers, so be it.