Her Composition

This was interesting and artful. I'm glad I watched it, but it could have been better in several ways.

Composer Malorie, struggling with writer's block and financial difficulties, prostitutes herself to several men and a woman. More than just paying the bills, these experiences raise her awareness of the colors, sounds, textures, and people of New York City, unblocking the creative process and allowing her to find her own musical voice.

Portions of this movie are so beautifully filmed that we can easily believe that these other sensations can remove her mental block. A difficulty arises for the next step, though: it's quite likely impossible to show on objective film how subjective experiences are synthesized into a creation, and in Her Composition, this process just doesn't get us there. Like Malorie's professor, I wanted to see intermediate progress that was, if not wholly rational, at least more substantive. When insight occurs such that 95 percent of the work gets done in 5 percent of the time, it's hard to believe. Maybe that's how creativity operates, I don't know, but I felt left out of the experience at this point.

Other parts of the movie are not so beautifully filmed, with excess use of too-close closeups, out-of-focus views, and random subject matter. These strongly detracted, particularly in the early minutes before we'd had a chance to develop some empathy for the main character. And, at least as packaged for streaming on VUDU, the dialog was occasionally drowned out by background. Initially, Malorie's voice was so wispy it seemed forced, but this improved later in the film (I doubt this was scripted.)

On the plus side, the acting was excellent all around. Also, Her Composition is one of those uncommon films where copious nudity and sexual activity make sense in terms of plot and theme. Watching this, my sense of immersion in the action was never interrupted by phony attempts at modesty. And in terms of what was asked of the cast, there was greater gender parity than is typical.

Some clarity of the plot set-up would have helped. Malorie gets her list of high-rolling johns (and a jane) from an NGO that is setting up a sting to assist the FBI. It wasn't clear what crime other than prostitution was going on, why an NGO was involved, nor why only the clients were targeted and not the women, and especially, why it was a federal matter rather than local. I was left guessing, which was unnecessary as about three more lines of dialog might have explained it all. Perhaps, with New Jersey and Connecticut close, the johns were the ones running the show, and operating across state lines? Trafficking minors or the unwilling seems an unlikely explanation in the world of high-price ($1,500/hr) call girls. This uncertainty was distracting.

Overall, though, this was 90 minutes that will keep your attention and engage your senses.

It's a heavy movie about a person that goes from "all is perfectly fine" to "ok, so let's go as low as possible". I mean I've been there many times but I didn't sell myself in the process of getting back to where I wanted to be. The thing is, this movie is disgusting, I still recommend watching this for those who really want to understand what depression and trying to get back on their feet means.

The rating I gave is 2 because of the message that it spreads and also I wanted to hear the music piece that she worked on the whole fkn time :/. I overstand that the premise of the movie is a character study, but people shouldn't be doing what she did, because it's highest forms of self h8 when you betray yourself on all levels just to gain something that you won't even be happy in the process of attaining it or celebrate your achievement (in a happy sense).

In times like these people need more self-empowerment and belief that they can achieve things without killing themselves (physically/emotionally/mentally). So it's a great movie to study of what people go through though I wouldn't recommend taking notes and applying it xD. Also people tend to think that masterful things only come from suffering, they are wrong, happiness/excitement and love are better motivators to really shine.

This is a beautiful special film. It is honest and raw, sensual and compelling. Incredible quality and excellent performances.

The uniquely spellbinding "Her Composition" is a decidedly nuanced and ambitious film, and one that peels back layer upon layer of itself only to somehow expose the true intricacies of the artistically afflicted.

Played with a deft hand by Joslyn Jensen, Malorie is a conspicuously talented composition student at a New York art institute. Her personal life craters as the college term ends, leaving her on the hook to submit final work or risk expulsion. Confronted with real-life and real-time needs, Malorie becomes a call girl, and her expanding sense of her own body signals a shift in the film's attentions. Experiential realizations learned while she checks out during encounters bring a clarity to Malorie; soon that detachment gives rise to experientially sensed melodies she then transforms into collage, eventually revealing a full musical mapping of her journey.

"Her Composition" is a mesmerizing piece of storytelling - a proposed portrait of the machinations of artistic inspiration, and an angular presentation on artistic and female empowerment. Improbably, this aspirational film achieves every lofty watermark it sets out to reach. - (Was this review of use to you? If so, let me know by clicking "Helpful." Cheers!)

Delightful on so many levels. Such a creative indie movie from the beautiful cinematography, the unique use of music to convey emotions of the characters (main character is a composer, after all), women empowerment and an inspirational story about rising above your challenges and pursue your goals.