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cricket...
Mommy
(2014)
Director: Xavier Dolan
This was a challenge for me to start watching. Right off of the bat I didn't like the characters. Tasteless, crass and hardly amusing. Within about 15 minutes, I loosened up enough to invest into whatever story would unfold.
Mommy is a French/Canadian film spoken in native tongue that was fast and furious with its dialog. Every other word was an expletive for season and it came on so compounded that I literally had to frame back a few times on my dvd copy of it to be able to get into the flow of the dialog.
The story is very simple, and from my perspective, not much of a surprise as I pretty much knew what was going to happen. It's tough for me to fault this movie for not being spirited enough because it's brimming with energy and verve,
WARNING: "spoiler" spoilers below
and there was one line that killed me when the son remarks about his next door neighbor to his mom; "her ass smells like roses, I see it written in the stars", as she walks by him.
and there was one line that killed me when the son remarks about his next door neighbor to his mom; "her ass smells like roses, I see it written in the stars", as she walks by him.
Definitely a kooky movie. I didn't sympathize that much all in all because I think the parent evaded a lot of moral responsibility concerning anyone else but her own son, which, when you see the movie, you'll know what I mean, but I was moved. The acting was tight. I'm actually wondering how they afforded the rights to some of the songs they used.
The picture was shot in a highly unconventional 1:1 aspect ratio rendering it close to portrait smart phone image. That took me by surprise. I had to check the specs to make sure I had my dvd menu options set correctly. Interesting use of that limiting girth. Very intimate and claustrophobic,
Since this was a Lionsgate dvd, I had to suffer through some alienation since the titling author left me out of the loop with a voice over montage that seemed important. It was all in French and no subtitles were ported into that scene. I was very disappointed I could not be in on the scenario, instead only hearing a bunch of foreign speak at a pinnacle moment in the film. I can't hold it against the movie itself, though.
I liked this movie. It was pretty OK. I didn't cry because I didn't particularly like the characters too too much, and also,
WARNING: "anudder spoila" spoilers below
there was a subplot never realized with the next door neighbor where she was always on the verge of divulging something about her home life, but never does. That was frustrating. Not sure if it was intentional but I can't say it worked for the movie. Just kind of hinted at something but never let you in on the secret.
there was a subplot never realized with the next door neighbor where she was always on the verge of divulging something about her home life, but never does. That was frustrating. Not sure if it was intentional but I can't say it worked for the movie. Just kind of hinted at something but never let you in on the secret.
I give it a passing grade but not without it's share of hiccups. Technique-wise, the film is very poetic with it's use of choices in shots and editing.
WARNING: "lasht one" spoilers below
Some great dirties and creative use of angles thread some of the more generalized scenes of drinking and laughing a good deal of weight.
Some great dirties and creative use of angles thread some of the more generalized scenes of drinking and laughing a good deal of weight.
For now I'll leave my rating
as is. If time is kind to
Mommy in my own head, I may possibly knock it up a half box.
+
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, but I kind of like that ending.