Dáire’s Review
Dakota Johnson is Lucy a career driven woman, who loves what she does and is great at it. We follow her life in the matchmaking business as she guides her clients toward true love and marital bliss. But her one track mind is derailed after meeting the “unicorn” Harry (played by Pedro Pascal) and running into her ex, John (played by Chris Evans). She’s torn between the perfect eligible bachelor and a past she left for a reason.
After the roaring success of her pervious movie, Past Lives, Writer & Director Celine Song is back with Materialist, her second feature. With effective use of blocking and camera placement the audience feels enveloped in the extravagance and scale of multimillion dollar apartments, the emotional distance between characters or personable intimacy in their quieter moments.
With a cast like that, unsurprisingly, everyone hold their own exceptionally well. Johnson as the woman in the in the love industry, who might not believe in it and is acutely aware of the realities of the business of dating. Pascal as the sharp, in both wits and style, and rich bachelor who’s looking for more than material and tangible “assets”. And Evans ask the forlorn ex still chasing his dream of making it as an actor and doing odd jobs.
But the performance that stands out is that of Zoë Winters (best known for a recurring part on Succession). Her side plot brings grounded and real drama to an otherwise enjoyable but straight forward romantic movie. This adds a more serious tone with brutally honest conversations on the world of dating.
Finally with several weddings, parties and fine restaurants I’d be amiss not to mention the costumes and set design. We are indulged in a movie with wealthy characters and get to take in bountiful dresses, suits, apartments and ballrooms.
A24 once again brings us a film with that bit extra, not quite the romcom I was expecting but with brave and important conversations (and the obvious romance).
