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This is part of a seemingly mundane conversation about relationships between strangers Tess (Georgina Campbell) and Keith (Bill Skarsgård) as they get to know each other after they've been accidentally double-booked in the same rental house. We don't know much about Keith, but we do get some hints that Tess might be dealing with either a breakup or a problematic relationship, which prompts the above response from Keith. But as we dig into the film real plot, there is certainly more to that quote than we might think of.
Barbarian is split in four acts. The first follows Tess and Keith, while the second one introduces a third character, AJ (Justin Long), to the equation. The third act is a brief flashback that ties with the events in the present time, while the final act just wraps things up. It is a very effective narrative structure for this story that keeps you a bit on your toes as you try to figure out what's happening.
To talk more about the film would be a detriment because I think the film works best when you walk in a bit blind, but let's just say there are several instances of characters projecting "some kind of dynamic" onto others because it serves them in some way. It's up to these characters if they "want to play ball or not", but it's interesting to see the dynamics between the characters as they try to figure out whether or not they want to "play ball", and what are the consequences of them doing so.
Director Zach Cregger, who already had a career as a comedian and had co-directed two features with partner Trevor Moore, certainly turned some heads with this. The film might feature some common tropes, but it is still smartly written and cleverly structured. And although there are some things in the last act that might require a bit of suspension of disbelief, you'll probably be too deep in the hole already. It's up to you to play ball or not.
Grade:
BARBARIAN
(2022, Cregger)
(2022, Cregger)
"There's always going to be people that project some kind of dynamic onto us that serves them. It's up to us if we want to play ball or not."
This is part of a seemingly mundane conversation about relationships between strangers Tess (Georgina Campbell) and Keith (Bill Skarsgård) as they get to know each other after they've been accidentally double-booked in the same rental house. We don't know much about Keith, but we do get some hints that Tess might be dealing with either a breakup or a problematic relationship, which prompts the above response from Keith. But as we dig into the film real plot, there is certainly more to that quote than we might think of.
Barbarian is split in four acts. The first follows Tess and Keith, while the second one introduces a third character, AJ (Justin Long), to the equation. The third act is a brief flashback that ties with the events in the present time, while the final act just wraps things up. It is a very effective narrative structure for this story that keeps you a bit on your toes as you try to figure out what's happening.
To talk more about the film would be a detriment because I think the film works best when you walk in a bit blind, but let's just say there are several instances of characters projecting "some kind of dynamic" onto others because it serves them in some way. It's up to these characters if they "want to play ball or not", but it's interesting to see the dynamics between the characters as they try to figure out whether or not they want to "play ball", and what are the consequences of them doing so.
Director Zach Cregger, who already had a career as a comedian and had co-directed two features with partner Trevor Moore, certainly turned some heads with this. The film might feature some common tropes, but it is still smartly written and cleverly structured. And although there are some things in the last act that might require a bit of suspension of disbelief, you'll probably be too deep in the hole already. It's up to you to play ball or not.
Grade: