I'm Your Woman

With a phenomenal Rachel Brosnahan performance and a powerful story I'm Your Woman is a visually beautiful and emotionally thrilling movie with some amazing scenes. Great direction, very smart screenplay, beautiful aesthetic and great supporting roles. At times it feels like is going no where, especially in the middle where it feels kind of messy. But still, this is a a phenomenal experience that will keep you at the edge of your seat, and it really is one of a kind.

The experience of the movie is the experience of Jean (Rachel Brosnahan). That's on purpose, so if you can't handle a crying baby or not knowing what is happening, and only sloooowly figuring out what is going on: yup that's the point. It's annoying, harrowing, and helps explain some of the actions she takes in the movie.

The conceit is to look at what happens to some of the more peripheral characters in the typical mobster movie. When the wife is sent off with a trusted cohort, what happens? How unpleasant is it to not be in the know? To find you NEVER were in the know about anything, and slowly find out the truth of many things about your life.

Even those who rated it well, I will note, say that it's not got action etc. Wrong. It has Meaningful Action. You really, really start learning the stakes, and get paranoid about everything while watching. When there is a sudden burst of violence, it is both unexpectedly all the more frightening, and the probability of a violent outcome are very clear. Violence builds slowly, then happens suddenly. Like reality. People who hold others at gunpoint get shot by people not stupid enough to talk about it first.

Great movie, really makes me weep for civilization at all the low ratings.

I loved this film. Amazed to see so many bad reviews, likely due to a Michael Mann audience not knowing what to make of Kelly Reichardt stylings. Excellent period design, cinematography, and superb performance by Brosnahan, with a subtle script, heavy on interiority, that allows most of the action to enter without much explanation.

I loved the way it left so much of the chaos and violence off stage, and brought just enough in to validate the terror of the characters, and the way it managed to play on some strong ant-racist and feminist themes without ever commenting on them. If you're looking for Heat, walk on by, if you're patient and motherhood thrills you, you might love this as well.

I laughed when I saw Michael Mann thanked in the end credits. Aspects of the this film reminded me of Thief (1981), Michael Mann's first film starring James Caan and Tuesday Weld. I am guessing that Brosnahan's character continues where Tuesday left off in the film when she was sent off with a guard and a bag of money by Frank, who had a whole syndicate after him. Same situation, Frank met Jessie who could not have children and because the former had a criminal record, they could not adopt either. A child was delivered from a syndicate connection. Thus, a pretty hefty nod to an earlier film classic (and one of my all-time favorites). I think Frank would have been nicer and more competent than Eddie in this film. Same with Jessie and Jean, as in Jessie from Thief would be more competent than Jean, but maybe the former might not have the courage to use a gun, as jean does. Speaking of which, is 'I'm you're Woman' any good? Yeah, it's alright. Not great but not bad either. Sorta dark, not-so-feel-good trying to be a feel-good, but plot sort of T-bones all that. I was chuckling throughout, but I like dark humor. Not bad, it's okay. As for those who complain about the crying kid, eventually he does stop and the story picks up.

I understand why many people have reviewed this film negatively. It's not for everyone. If it were meant to be for everyone, the producers would have dug up another comic book character and we'd have another steaming piece of Marvel to stare at for 2 hours. With great production value, I'm sure.

This is a slow burn. I like that. I want to care about the characters before I know (or I am left to determine) their fate. I want to see Jean's transformation-especially since she is simply Eddie's woman for the first part of the story. She starts off purposeless. Maybe a pretty face he didn't marry for her cooking.

Anyway, the plot moves soon enough and we are presented with a crime movie not dissimilar from most crime movies. Except for the transformation of Jean. And the humanity. The kindness of strangers along the way. The touch of a stranger at a laundromat. Some good people.

There are a couple of events in the film that cannot be overlooked. Maybe these events will cause some viewers to find one or two of the heroes irredeemable. (I'm being vague to avoid spoilers.) But at least it gives you something to think about as you watch it.

Also, I love the two Aretha songs (covers) in this film: Natural Woman and The Weight. (Sorry, I had to throw that in.)

If you like independent films, I think you'll like this one. Personally, I am glad I watched it and enjoyed seeing Jean's arc.