I'm just back from Deauville where I had the chance to watch a few premieres including this one. And let's get a few things out of the way. I love Kristen Stewart , I'm also queer and feminist, I also have experienced abused and addiction and so I feel like I have a lot of empathy for those topics. Lastly, I am as well completely in love with Imogen Poots and feel like she has yet to have roles align with her talents.
I usually appreciate biopic and drama and as much as I really appreciate how the character grow and what she is going through the directing and editing were atrocious. Let's begin:
Half if not 2/3 of the movie has a voice over ... at times it does what it is intended to do, provide clarity to what we're seeing but as a lot of teacher would tell you: show us don't tell. It's so overused that it dissociate us from what's happening and yes she is mostly going through her life dissociated but if you're viewer get that feeling well, how are we supposed to connect with the film?
All along the movie the sound or voice is juxtaposed with a different image (taken from another moment) at times and use scarcely it shows the character difficulty to be in the moment .. but when you over used the way it's done here it becomes sloppy , intense and so whiny.
Editing wise the rapid cuts and flash of lights again used to demonstrate the pain the character is in is sooo overused ; we get it! She's in pain!
The directing itself starting at first with the 3/4 ratio well I'm sorry but beside being annoying for a lot of theatre is so pompous especially when it's a debut movie.
The shots lacks purpose and again feels messy and quite crass - the book and obviously the scenario already are , I'm not sure the shots needed to be as well.
Good acting and good music but overall I would say the story wasn't elevated by this movie and left us quite at a distance with it's characters. There's room for improvement so I'm looking forward to the next one.
