mother! - movie review

mother!

Plot: A couple's relationship is tested when uninvited guests arrive at their home, disrupting their tranquil existence.
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Certificate: 18 (strong violence)
Runtime: 2hrs 1 min
Release Date: Friday 15th September 2017

If there's one thing that I can say with absolute certainty about Darren Aronofsky's latest film, is that whomever watches it will never forget where they were when they saw it. mother!'s longevity in the mind will be the most agreeable comment made about the film. Aronofsky has practically built a career on making movies that don't appeal to a wide audience and whilst I haven't exactly seen eye to eye with all of his films, I always feel a tinge of excitement every time his newest creation comes to cinemas. How does his newest film fare? Well, there's no arguing that mother! is the most polarising film released in recent memory and that those who see it will likely fall on either side of the fence but not in between. mother! is Marmite. You'll either love it or hate it. After some careful thought and consideration, and a brief rest-bite to get over my WTF mind state, mother! might just be my favourite Aronofsky film to date.

This staring contest is gripping.

There is much to discuss within mother! and right off the bat, it's important to understand that if you leave the film absolutely hating it and not having the slightest inkling as to what happened, then that's absolutely fine. Even if you do understand what the film is about, there is still a considerable possibility that you aren't a fan as to how Aronofsky goes about delivering his message. mother! is a required taste and if you aren't a fan of wild, fantastical and hugely allegorical movies that depend upon a gigantic and contextual message, you are likely to become infuriated as the film progresses. Thankfully, mother! hit all the sweet spots for me. It may have taken me some time for it all to sink in and I did leave the cinema in a state of shock, but after some much needed reflection, mother! revealed itself to me as a near masterpiece. I think it only fair to discuss my overall impression of mother! by avoiding spoilers entirely because, if you are considering seeing mother! you NEED to go in knowing as little as possible. That being said, after I've given my overall verdict, as would feature at the conclusion of my review, there will be a brief spoiler breakdown so I can provide my specific thoughts as to what message Aronofsky is trying to convey alongside his various allegories. Moving onto the film itself, the pace of the film will likely be a talking point of contention. I for one, quite admire the slow build up as we witness J Law waddle around her new house, room by room, and occasionally paint a wall. This peace is then disturbed upon Ed Harris' arrival and, because her husband (Javier Bardem) is a good Samaritan, he's welcomed into their home along with Michelle Pfeiffer. The cinematography in the opening scenes is some of the most complex and profound I've seen this year. Each shot can tell a story but when Aronofsky isn't composing beautiful wide shots, he choose extreme close ups on Jennifer Lawrence's face as she reacts to the continually crazy events that occur in her house. The other technical aspect that Aronofsky puts his stamp on is the sound design. Due to the very confined nature and personality to mother!, whenever a harsh sound is heard, the sound then continues and rings on for an extra few seconds, similar to how it feels to have a migraine. You pick up on every clink of a glass, step of a foot and drop of water. This adds to the overall intensity of the film and creates a multisensory experience. It's aspects like these that, whilst you may not like the film as a whole, you must have substantial admiration for the filmmaking techniques on display. Aronofsky has made a brilliantly crafted film that checks all the boxes in a technical sense. It's the story that will drive a wedge in the audience.

Somehow, I don't think you'll be getting your deposit back.

FACT: Michelle Pfeiffer admitted to not understanding the script the first time she read it, describing it as "esoteric." However, the actress committed to the project after becoming excited by the character she would be playing.

No matter the film, Aronofsky has always been able to get tremendous performances out of his stars. Whether it has something to do with the fact that the two started dating during production of the film, Jennifer Lawrence has clearly found her stride by working with Aronofsky. Considering that I was concerned that her performance would just consist of screaming into the camera and having a WTF expression on her face, Lawrence really pulls it out of the bag giving a very layered and complex representation of a woman trapped in inescapable circumstances. You watch Lawrence go on a journey from simple and doting housewife to emotionally drained and a human being that has literally been to hell and back. Along with her turn in Silver Linings Playbook, this has to rank among Lawrence's top acting performances. However, Lawrence isn't the only performers giving a career best as Javier Bardem, the king of understated acting, is on fine form once again. Bardem performs this role with ease and keeps things very calm and grounded. When circumstances get crazy and the absurdity begins, Bardem is the source of calm you can depend on. That is, until things hit another level and even Bardem can't stay in control and when he snaps, his acting excellence in on show for all to bare witness to. Even the supporting roles by Harris and Pfeiffer are on a shared level of brilliance but their roles are less than crystal clear and are equally as shrouded in mystery as the final thirty minutes are. And it's that final half an hour that will decide your overall impression of the film for you. The final act of mother! has to be the most outlandish, mental and downright unexpected finale to a film I've ever seen. The places and themes that are put onto screen reached unbelievable heights. Aronofsky has gone all out to shock, traumatise and cause mass hysteria. This is the moment where you either stick with it and see where it goes or pack your bags and check out completely. I, being the considerate soul that I am, was willing to give Aronofsky a chance to express his creative flair and whilst I appreciate the spectacle that Aronofsky was going for and understand the message he was conveying, I do think he may have gone too far with the graphic nature in this finale. He includes some acts that needn't be seen by any human being and I do feel that he goes to this extreme place for the sake of shock value. It has the impression of wanting to create a reaction for the purpose of hype and chatter. I'd imagine that the same result could have been achieved with a careful, more gentle approach. Another slight disadvantage to mother! is that it isn't exactly rewatchable. The opening half of the movie is a slight drag, even if I do now know all of the appropriate answers, but there is only so many times that I can endure the final act. The technical and filmmaking brilliance displayed by Aronofsky is on a level and calibre that no other director is working at today. That being said, it could also be the fact that no directing working today is ballsy enough to venture into the mind-blowing territories that Aronofsky gleefully strolls around.

Vindaloos. Great on the way in. Not so much on the way out.

I have spoken to many people about this film and the response has been varied to say the least. Some adore it as a future classic whilst others claim mother! is the worst film of the past decade. I happen to lean towards the side of thinking mother! is a transcendent piece of filmmaking that can stand the test of time. I'm also very understanding of the fact that someone can walk into mother! and be completely disgusted by every minute of it. Aronofsky isn't afraid to take risks but his regular hallmarks of fantastic performances, intricate design, gorgeously composed shots and a gutpunch of a message make this a movie that I will never forget.

My Verdict: 8.5/10

Now, onto the spoiler talk for this review. One common belief that most will share about mother!, whether you understand it or not, is that simply explaining the final act to a general member of the public is likely to cause them grief and probably think you're a liar. It truly is that unexpected. But as to what the entire movie is attempting to address, I feel it worthy of putting in my own penny and expressing what I got from mother!

On the whole, mother! is one giant allegorical message that tells the story of the Bible from the point of view of Mother Nature. Jennifer Lawrence is the physical embodiment of Ms. Nature herself and the house she lives in represents the Earth (hence the frequent cut-aways to the beating heart). As for Bardem, he depicts God who enters a relationship with Mother Nature as they begin caring and rebuilding 'Earth' after it was previously destroyed. The arrival of Ed Harris and Michelle Pfeiffer signify Adam and Eve and their subsequent banishment when they enter Bardem's private study and destroy a prized antique, is reminiscent of their exclusion from the Garden of Eden. There are even blatant parallels to the Cain and Abel story as the brothers invade the home and wreck havoc resulting in a death. So far, things were definitely getting cooky but it was fairly coherent and understandable. It's when Bardem writes his new piece (aka The Bible) that the film changes from the relatively normal lane to the WTF is going lane. People start showing up at house and stealing everything, claiming them as their own and using the excuse that Bardem told them to share all that is his. Obviously, Aronofsky is providing some commentary on the idea of followers, both religious and non, but Aronofsky does run into his continual struggle that he goes too far in his depiction of this insanity. In the meantime, Mother Nature is pregnant with a child (possibly Baby Jesus) and this is when circumstances reach an obscene level. After accidentally causing a flood (*ahem* Noah's Ark *ahem*), the surge of people come back to the house once again and then we travel through the history of time from the perspective of war? At least, that's what I got from this montage. Tanks are blowing the house to kingdom come. Riot soldiers are raiding the house, executing random folk but doing all they can to protect Jennifer Lawrence and then, after giving birth, Bardem takes the baby to be seen by the masses outside and, to the disbelief of every single audience member, the baby's neck is snapped and subsequently eaten by all. I think I speak on behalf of the human race when I say, "Darren, No. Just no." I understand the importance of this scene but the graphic nature of it was needless. After all that carnage, Mother Nature snaps, demands everyone leave her house and then decides to burn it all to the ground leading to her death along with everyone else. The only one to survive the explosion is Bardem as he carries Mother Nature to a bed, tears her heart from her body and then, as if by magic, the house rebuilds itself and a new Mother Nature awakens from her slumber.

When someone whips out their phone for a snap.

I know what you're thinking; just reading that makes your head hurt and believe me, watching it is by no means any easier on the brain. At the end of the day, mother! is a message by Aronofsky about the idea of religion but also a giant allegorical message relating to the environment and how, through human history, we have continuously trashed our own planet. He may have gone to extremes to convey this message but one cannot deny his passion for the subject matter.

What did you think of mother! What is the most experimental Darren Aronofsky film? Sound off in the comments below.

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