MOTHER!

A film that has been on watchlist for around two years now since I missed it at the cinema and have had the Blu-Ray since last year. This is one of the most divisive films in recent years, and after watching it I can understand why. mother! sees a couple’s (Jennifer Lawrence & Javier Bardem) relationship become tested when uninvited guests (Ed Harris & Michelle Pfeiffer) arrive at their home, disrupt their peaceful existence and begin a series of escalating events.This is the second of Aronofsky's movies that I have seen (the first being Requiem For A Dream) and I have the rest on my watchlist. His direction here is very impressive. The camerawork is very claustrophobic and tightly focused on the character as they take up most of the frame. It also makes the large sprawling house feel condensed and difficult to move around, this becomes reality later when the house becomes a seething mass of people. There is some visually beautiful and also truly horrific cinematography with a varied colour palette that makes the film have a memorable visual style. The editing of the film also is impressive, the violent sequences are truly brutal and raw in the way they are cut and the final sequence is a truly frantic and off the rails in its presentation and yes the finale is truly as disturbing and shocking as you’ve heard.The performances are brilliant. This is definitely Jennifer Lawrence’s best performance of her career (of her films I have seen so far), she goes through hell in this film and we witness her completely losing her mind at it progresses. She’s conveys anger, confusion, love and sympathy all in the space of minutes at times as the situation becomes more and more hostile and strange and her physical performance also is excellent, she really throws herself into the scenes. Javier Bardem is also very good here, a work obsessed writer who really doesn’t seem to bothered by the fact that complete strangers are arriving in his house and doing what they want. His character is an interesting one and you never really know what his motivations and thought process is. He goes from loving and caring about Lawrence’s character (who is simply known as ‘Mother’ in the credits) to ignoring and forgetting about her entirely. Ed Harris & Michelle Pfeiffer are also excellent as the couple that first appear in the house, Pfeiffer especially gives a menacing and venomous performance and it’s also good seeing Kristen Wiig play a serious (albeit very small) supporting role.The film is very heavy on its metaphorical religious imagery and would be lying if I said I understood all of them and what exactly was going on within the plot. The plot itself I do find to be the weakest aspect of the film due to it relying so heavily on the imagery and the pacing, though consistent, is a slow burn and the structure is slightly repetitive during the middle section of the film.mother! is a very original and striking film with some brilliant performances, impressive direction and camerawork and a shocking finale sequence. It’s plot meaning may be confusing and slow at times however this is certainly a film you won’t forget in a hurry.

I've been fascinated with the movies of Darren Aronofsky since I rented Pi on VHS back in the day and was reminded a little of the rawness of David Lynch's Eraserhead. Requiem For a Dream is a desert island movie for me; near perfect - and it gave me a lifelong yearning to see Marlon Wayons in dramatic roles. I even managed to reach the credits in that movie where Hugh Jackman floats around in a bubble. Mother - is exactly the same as all of his other movies in that it's nothing like any of his other movies. And the difference in each film he takes on never feels forced or artificial. I thought Mother was a brilliant and disturbing cacophony of ideas - but I may not have understood it (or enjoyed it) had it not been for my mum and dad - who one Sunday morning in the 1970's realised that they could send me and my sister to church and then Sunday School, while they stayed in bed. And all that 2 hours of babysitting cost them was 10p each for the collection plate. And so the stories of the bible - which were also far more common in the popular culture of the day too - became familiar to me, and although not a christian I broadly know the big stories of that book. So the moment I thought to myself - could Michelle Pfieffer be Eve..? was the moment I saw the pages of that book crack open and those stories be told in a different way - which was fascinating. And overall those who rate the movie highly seem to see it that way, and those who don't like it - without that anchor of allegory - find it a confusing mess. And I can see why. It's also been called disturbing - and I chose to look away at one point. I struggle with movie violence that looks too real - and by real I don't mean gory - it's more where blows look like they have real impact and would cause lasting damage. There's not much of that - but I could tell I was about to see something I wouldn't forget in a hurry. Self censorship - sometimes the only way : ) There are no Aronofsky movies that are not on my watch again list - even Jackman in a bubble, and Mother is no different. However the best way I can sum up my resistance to watching it again is that I feel I'd have to somehow hold my breath through the full experience and be ready to experience something profoundly heartbreaking on the nature of humanity - which for me was what this movie seemed to be saying. Mans imperfect understadning of the intentions of a God who loved them in spite of all the ugliness of human nature - and this movie does not shy away from that ugliness. Jennifer Lawrence as Mother - while not a biblical character - is infused with such goodness that it shines an even brighter light on that ugliness - and even cast a cold light on Javier Bardem as Him - and in so doing ties Mother into a familiar pantheon that includes the works of Milton among others. Sorry. I went all Eng Lit on you there. It's not a movie I would recommend unless you were already an Aronofsky fan - it's best to wander in unaware and let the movie slowly unfurl - let its pastoral scenes and golden sunshine allow you to settle in before strangers start to appear at the door one by one. It's also not a horror. It's horrific in places, but it's not a horror.

This film has been described as horror but is actually a psychological thriller. The performances are good but get lost in the directors intentions to be both a horror & psychological thriller with the result being neither. Some scenes are drawn out way to long leaving the viewer puzzled as to what the director is trying to achieve. Overall the film is clearly a kind of take on the far superior The Wicker man which I would recommend rather than sitting through this again.

It’s a weird film

Read / heard so much hype about this film. Wished I hadn't bothered buying it!

I read the reviews, watched the film and was surprised how many people have taken it at face value. If you are expecting a horror film like them, you will be disappointed. Firstly, the casting of JLaw isn't great, of course some other actresses would have done a better job, but she was probably chosen because Aronofski was aiming the film at the mainstream public, of course for profit but also to communicate a message. Javier B, was gracious, toning down his acting - just a bit, to match Jlaw, so the two can give a story that holds together. For the whole film you wouldn't know what's going on - like Jlaw herself. Only at the end you will (hopefully) realise that the film is an analogy for the modern day phenomenon of people choosing the fickle love of their fans over the undying love of one individual, because even though they know that the undying love of one individual is precious like a precious stone, the individual nowadays is disposable and replaceable. You won't have to do any thinking throughout the film though...