Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)

[Ezen Baklattan]

Does Goulding's song actually appear in the movie?

Edited February 14, 2015 by Spaghetti

[ddddeeee]

Does Goulding's song actually appear in the movie?

Yes but it's a different version. It plays during the helicopter ride.

[FTF]

Yes but it's a different version. It plays during the helicopter ride.

Is that some kinky sex move where while on his back doing it he's spinning her around?

[Crusader]

 

Considering the epic trashiness of E.L. James' poorly-written, inexplicably-popular novel and the film's troubled road to the big screen, it wouldn't be unreasonable to head into the film adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey expecting the 2010s equivalent of Showgirls. However, what the film ends up settling for is mediocrity. Don't get me wrong, this is about a billion times better than the book, as it dispenses with all of the amateurish narration (there isn't a single reference to any "inner goddesses") and the more ridiculous stuff (like the infamous tampon bit). But don't mistake "a billion times better than the book" for "somehow a good movie", though. The film still suffers from a multitude of problems, most of which relate to the poor writing (we still have wretched lines like "I don't make love, I fuck...hard"), and the insistence of selling the audience this twisted dud of a romance. It also doesn't help that one of the movie's biggest flaws is Mr. Grey himself. The casting of Jamie Dornan (an 11th hour replacement for Charlie Hunnam) proves to be fatal. Not since Hayden Christensen in the Star Wars prequels has there been a lead actor fail at carrying a film on his shoulders as much as Dornan does here. While admittedly handsome, he never sells any of the character's supposed mysteriousness or convey how damaged he is (Christian is a victim of child sexual abuse), and his attempt at an American accent flops. He appears even more lackluster next to Dakota Johnson, who actually manages to make Anastasia a more interesting character on the screen than on the page. I've enjoyed Johnson in everything I've seen her in (supporting parts in films like The Social Network, 21 Jump Street, and The Five-Year Engagement), and she proves more than capable at taking the spotlight despite the rest of the film and her co-star weighing her down (the two have no chemistry as a result of the imbalance in performances). Of course, everyone knows that the only reason Fifty Shades of Grey was so popular was because of the really steamy sex scenes, and while the film had no choice but to really tame them down to secure multiplex distribution, there isn't anything that stands out as being exactly provocative. I'll admit that the film manages to surpass early expectations and is never unwatchable. However, the bad writing and Dornan's poor performance sink the film. There isn't anything here that stands out as being very sexy and the film isn't trashy enough to be a camp classic, and it completely collapses as it nears the finish line. If you were a fan of the book, my guess is that you'll be reasonably satisfied; everyone else will leave the movie wondering what the fuss was all about. C

 

 

Precisely why I won't pay to see it 

 

It appears to offer nothing - great or terrible (other than Dornan ) 

[#ED]

I somehow liked it but it's terrible for sure.

[Ezen Baklattan]

It's not so much bad as it is uncomfortable. The relationship feels so hard to watch simply out of Grey's own despicable and creepy character (Insisting that he had a tough past over and over and buying Ana lavish gifts does not make a difference.) It becomes even worse with the movie's failure to show him as he is, and I highly doubt it was trying to pull a WOWS and indict us for loving such horrible people.

Either way, it's decently made from the source material, and I loved Elfman's score.

[Jonwo]

The soundtrack was probably the saving grace of the film.

[Rorschach]

Shouldn't this have been called Fanfiction: The Movie? Because that's what it looks like.

Or maybe 50 Shades of Domestic Abuse?

[Gopher]

Probably liked it more than anyone else here. It's a very flawed movie, obviously, but there's real artistry to some of the compositions and Sam Taylor-Johnson probably could've made a legitimately good movie (as opposed to an okay one) without EL James' excessive control. Dakota Johnson is a real find. 

[Ezen Baklattan]

It's a well made movie, but it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth simply because of Grey himself.

[GumbyandPokey]

Dakota Johnson would really be something if her legs weren't literally stick-thin and shapeless. Give her Vanessa Hudgens legs and she would be incredible. Never realized this was some kind of Twilight fan-fiction. But certain scenes (like the piano playing...not nearly as good a scene as in Twilight) are almost imitations. I almost expected them to leap into the giant trees while walking in the forest. I have to say, though, that I was expecting the worst movie ever made and it wasn't that bad. And I never read the books but the S&M wasn't really that big of a deal (and I'm a real prude).

[4815162342]

It's a well made movie, but it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth simply because of Grey himself.

 

Kinda surprised no one's had fun with this

[TheMovieman]

So blasé through and through. Dakota Johnson actually wasn't bad, it had a slick production design and cinematography and I actually liked the music, but otherwise it's such a terrible and forgettable film. And yeah, Jamie Dornan and had zero chemistry with Dakota. That said, I can't give him too much crap since the source material, from what I've read and seen (people reading on YouTube which is hilarious) is awful. But Universal got its wish with a cash grab, but I have to wonder what the sequels will offer if the first is just so uninteresting...

 

**/****, (D, 3.9/10, 1.5/4)

Edited May 9, 2015 by The Movieman

[baumer]

Probably liked it more than anyone else here. It's a very flawed movie, obviously, but there's real artistry to some of the compositions and Sam Taylor-Johnson probably could've made a legitimately good movie (as opposed to an okay one) without EL James' excessive control. Dakota Johnson is a real find.

FUCK!

We agree on something again.

[Asyulus]

I loved this movie!!

A+

[Maxmoser3]

This movie SUCKS ass, I do not care for Jamie "I have no emotion" Dornan and him not doing this not doing that and his whole fucking stalker teleportation he can't act worth shit and will be a one-hit wonder and fade away I hate his character and he seems like a real life douchebag. The "romantic chemistry" does not work I more feel sorry for Anastasia Steele(which sounds like a name for a lame pornstar) and the whole sex stuff was not arousing nor hot I'm not saying that I hate female nudity I actually like female nudity but the sex and the whole BDSM shit is cringeworthy. On the bright side the soundtrack was the best thing the two Ellie Goulding songs were good, as well as that "no body no body" song, and Dakota Johnson didn't seem like I'm here for the paycheck but she didn't a horrible performance but just did stupid decisions. If I knew Christian Grey I would call the police and set a restraining order. Grade:D-(near F but I'm not sure)

Edited August 13, 2015 by Maxmoser3

[ddddeeee]

The Classic Conversation Thread just reminded me that I quite like this.

 

Dakota is fab, I love the slick, clean look as well as the songs and how Elfman scored it like an Errol Morris documentary. Dornan's horrible (and I'm a fan) and it's boring on more than a few occasions but the movie rests on Dakota and she kills it. As a story of a sub woman who becomes the dom in the relationship it works.

 

Give STJ some decent material and she could do great things for sure.

[Popcorn Lobotomy]

I rapped my review of this one:

 

 

I usually get plenty out of a movie that leads with sex and nudity, but 50 Shades did nothing for me.

 

Dakota Johnson is ok, kinda pretty, but she's not someone I would want to see naked. And now that I have, I'd rather unsee it -- she's much more interesting with her clothes on. I guess that's the only positive to having to wait 43 minutes for the first sex scene. As soft porn, it left me... well... soft.

 

The story is only enough to fill a movie half its length and it pretty much fails as a romance for me. The two leads have little chemistry, with Christian Grey acting like a robot and Anastasia overdoing her submissiveness to the point of seeming mentally challenged at times.

 

The portrayal of BDSM seems shallow and more akin to domestic abuse that the kind of role playing that I assume is the focus of BDSM. I don't think you have to be an abused or messed up individual to like being dominant.

 

I'm not in that world, but while researching for my video, I wasn't surprised that many who are found it offensive and disrespectful.

 

BDSM gets a much more interesting treatment in Secretary, where you can understand the characters and follow intricately how they negotiate the power in their relationship, without a single word about it. They don't need contracts, they explore their boundaries through actions.

 

Overall, Fifty Shades of Blah. D. Won't watch the sequel.

[chrisman0606]

This movie is better titled Fifty Shades of Crap, because it is. D-