Lola

As others have said, the 10/10 reviews are obviously from shills connected with the movie or friends of Mrs Peltz-Beckham. The simple fact that it was written by, directed by, and stars Nicola should make you suspect that this is purely a vanity project, much like her husband's attempts to portray himself as a photographer and/or chef. And you would be right as she spends most of the film looking dead behind the eyes and completely detached from the storyline. She should stick to doing what she does best, being a "poor little rich girl", as she sure as hell doesn't have a future in the film industry.

I'm not even sure if this film deserves a bad review or if it's better to just pretend I didn't endure this incredibly bad movie. Lola feels like the director decided to film the beat sheet instead of the actual script. The pacing is rushed, as if the goal was to get through the story quickly just to linger on longer close-up shots of Nicola Peltz Beckham's face. My initial thought was, "Does the director have a crush on Nicola?" Then I realized-she is the director, and also the writer. Suddenly, it all made sense. This film is nothing more than a vanity project, and it painfully shows.

I do have to compliment the Director of Photography.

In no way does this film depict what the reality of drug addiction/poverty is. It was a genuinely laughable attempt at doing so. It was painfully obvious that the director of this film was not drawing from real life experience and knowledge. I recommend watching The Florida Project instead for something that actually feels somewhat authentic. On top of this films inauthenticity it was also incredibly predictable and boring. I had to fast forward on many occasions because 50% of the film were just slow motion cameos of Nicolas face that make great clips for Instagram and TikTok but ultimately a terrible movie.

First of all the style and photography of this film are good. I really enjoyed the style and way it was shot.

The story is a sombre tale of a dysfunctional family which in itself is fine but it really lacks the emotional weight to carry this through.

Luke David Blumm was good but more focus should have been on him, he is the centrepiece of the story.

Instead the film focuses around Lola played by Nichola Peltz Beckham..I thought that was a strange decision then lo and behold i find out it was written and produced by Nichola...

Rather than focus on the story and key characters we focus on Nichola, Nichola with her brother ( the best bits ) , Nichola arguing with her mum ( not so great or believable), Virginia Madson does an ok job of being a toxic mum.

Nichola with her friend ( kind of fun ) Raven Goodwin is decent.

Nichola at the strip club.

Nichola with her, kind of boyfriend ?

Nichola staring blankly into the distance.

Nichola looking upset with a blank stare.

Nicholas make up never changing throughout, sleeping, baths, rape, tears and trauma.

Plaudits to the DoP on this film as its beautifully shot and while Nichola is a beautiful girl she gets tiresome and lacks the emotional weight to pull off the character.

This could have been a lot better if Nichola was able to step back more and create something that was not just a Nichola Pelz Beckham showreel.

I guess when you have a billionaire father and Millionaire husband anything is possible though.

5/10.

Okay. I want to give my brutally honest opinion in depth. Because i have noticed no-one else really has on here yet. And i think it is necessary.

The cinematography, budget for talent, color scheme, costume/wardrobe(MINUS THE BELLY SHIRTS WHILE PREGNANT), set design, and drive for producing something that was supposed to give you a emotional reaction was 100% all there.

The writing and storylines are what failed this.

The fact that Nicola Peltz was born a billionaire and has not lived any of these moments or probably ever been within a 10 mile radius of any sort of actual struggle like these characters, is what makes this movie absolutely crumble. This was Nicola's play project to get to live a pretend life of trauma and poverty. (My assumption is being born so immensely wealthy resulted in her wanting to put on this fetish-ization of trauma p*rn).

But, i do think Nicola's performance and acting was honestly good. I will give her that. I would even argue that her performance was stronger than Virginia Madsens(who played the mom), who for such a seasoned actress was the weakest actor in this to be honest. The portrayal of the mother literally was a college improv class performance of "act like a 8 years sober from alcohol divorced middle age conservative mother who clutches their bible and is mentally abusive".

Starting off with the good: The LGBT youth storyline with Lola's younger sibling was the strongest written storyline and most interesting in this. And i think had the most memorable and best scenes in the film overall. I think the actor who played the younger sibling did a good job of balancing portraying innocence while still dealing with self conflict. At the end of each of Lola and her siblings scenes it would make me root for them to accomplish getting away from the mother and succeeding.

The scenes with Babina(Lola's friend and coworker) were also enjoyable to watch. I think the mellow friendship chemistry was portrayed well. I think it was realistic and sweet.

Now the bad: Lola's relationship with Malachi (her dr*g dealer and then BF) was super awkward and not realistic. It was such a push and pull of him being a F boy dirt bag and then magically cleaning up his act and caring that was so beyond unrealistic. Let's be real, when she was spiraling and was asking him for product he would of just looked at her as easy money customer.

The relationship with her mother/ all the interactions with her mother- like i stated above. Was just WAY too stereotypical to what a lower class middle age angry conservatives mother would be expected to react to having a stripper daughter and a LGBT son. It was a eye-rolling performance we've seen a million times on top of being poorly performed.

Lola wearing belly shirts and platform flip flops while 8 months pregnant????? Also having dr*g benders and still having perfect smokey eyeshadow cut creases + perfect skin??? Although i'll give them props for Lola having the that horrible greasy pee yellow box dye hair color, that was actually realistic.

Lola's job as a dancer. YIKES -where do i get started?

At the start of the movie it's almost alluded to Lola working at the club for a while to some extent. She certainly walks around the club as if she is comfortable and knows the process. Then about a half hour into the movie there is a scene in the back of the club where Lola talks to one of the other dancers and she expresses that she needs more money. This is when her fellow dancer coworker tells her about "the back room" and that she can make more money catering to clients in "the back room" - in a completely naive fashion that is so unbelievable it's laughable.

We are supposed to believe that Lola, a girl in her 20's who was raised in a lower middle class area -is a virgin who dresses skimpy and works at a strip club - has no idea about the s*x work that goes on often in strip clubs? Lola's character acts dumbfounded and as if she has never heard of such a thing going on before in the club. It's a horrendously out of touch and written scene.

Final thoughts: Okay after reading this all out, it was not my intention to drag this movie to shreds. I think most of what i am pointing out is what a-lot of other people are thinking too after watching this.

My main takeaway is when Nicola makes another project that she clearly has the budget + access to resources that can potentially make a good movie - is PLEASE get a writers team who will be brutally honest with you to help out with a more polished and realistic script.

Anyway, kudos if you read this far.

Also Nicola is you are reading this, hmu to help you write something- i can use some extra money.

Thank you. 💟