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. 💟
