2021 Movie Viewing No.49
"Malcolm and Mary" directed by Sam Levinson
(4/5)
What makes cinema an unusual and rare art form is the collision of its own identities in the search for universality.
The film tells the story of Malcolm (a filmmaker), a writer-director with a burgeoning career, and his new film, about a young drug addict, is based on him. The life of his girlfriend, Mary, is also a message that Malcolm forgot to publicly acknowledge in his thank you speech, sparking an argument between the two that makes up much of the film: exploring authenticity, recognition , film criticism, art, self, and love.
The work is a little more interesting when Marie agrees with the critics and even goes so far as to say that her dissatisfaction with being a filmmaker is her dissatisfaction with being a person. Touches on a deeper theme of the film, which is learning to listen to criticism and grow from it, not just as an artist, but as a person. But some interpretations of the film completely negate Mary's position, which is the emotional core of the film.
The character Mary is a very masculine character in some ways. She has an ascetic, conservative nature that you usually associate with male characters. It's only as the film unfolds that you see the emotional outbursts and connections in it.
The message of this film is simply that you need to acknowledge the people in your life who have helped you create a good life. This is a form of gratitude, both within and outside the industry.
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