I covered this briefly in my NYFF dispatch. Not as high on it as most critics. I'd give it three starts out of four for Haynes' ability to not only shift tones on a dime, but to change my opinion about whether successful camp can ever be intentional. (Until this movie, my answer was no.) This is a movie John Waters would have slayed. I wrote "Melton is the best asset here, and the only person who fully understands his character. Portman is in her own separate Southern Gothic movie, and I don’t know what the hell Moore thought she was doing" Melton's performance and the bonkers use of the Michel Legrand score save the movie. I don't know if I'm doing a full review.
Great writing Ty, so glad to reread this after watching the movie. You say it all so well. Made me think and rethink the intention. The butterfly metaphor is clear but that is about it!
Since I have seen three other Haynes movies, I expected the lead actress to be mentally unstable (what’s his problem with women?) I was riveted by the acting. The next day I realized the movie was also about the young husband. He never got to fly away free from his pupa like one of his monarch butterflies. At 13 years old he was stuck in a sort of prison and never got to enjoy a teenager’s life. I was hoping he would leave the marriage, free of Gracie. Her name should have been Crysalis.
Why were you disappointed, Mary?
I covered this briefly in my NYFF dispatch. Not as high on it as most critics. I'd give it three starts out of four for Haynes' ability to not only shift tones on a dime, but to change my opinion about whether successful camp can ever be intentional. (Until this movie, my answer was no.) This is a movie John Waters would have slayed. I wrote "Melton is the best asset here, and the only person who fully understands his character. Portman is in her own separate Southern Gothic movie, and I don’t know what the hell Moore thought she was doing" Melton's performance and the bonkers use of the Michel Legrand score save the movie. I don't know if I'm doing a full review.
Thanks Ty. Great writing, and context, as always. And thanks for the urban owl postscript!
Ditto what he said. Have a good holiday week.
I'm pretty sure I know what band Flaco went to hear in the East Village. I bet he was impressed.
Oh, you can't just leave that sitting there. Name names!
Great writing Ty, so glad to reread this after watching the movie. You say it all so well. Made me think and rethink the intention. The butterfly metaphor is clear but that is about it!
Since I have seen three other Haynes movies, I expected the lead actress to be mentally unstable (what’s his problem with women?) I was riveted by the acting. The next day I realized the movie was also about the young husband. He never got to fly away free from his pupa like one of his monarch butterflies. At 13 years old he was stuck in a sort of prison and never got to enjoy a teenager’s life. I was hoping he would leave the marriage, free of Gracie. Her name should have been Crysalis.
Good Grief, what a excellent little jewel you gave us in the link to Flaco, the eagle-owl in Central Park.