Directed by Noah Baumbach (known for work with The Squid and the Whale, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou), and also written by him and the leading actress, Greta Gerwig, Frances Ha follows Frances, a woman in her late 20's trying to make her career work out in NYC while juggling self-loss, self-finding, friends, and acquaintances. The outwardly pressure of the society combined with raw explication of internal struggles that are not faltered by aesthetics makes Frances Ha one of the most captivating films I've watched recently.
Yes, it is a comedy, but maybe because I am also a somewhat-lost-trying-to-do-the-right-stuff-girl-in-her-twenties, this drama hits the emotional home run. I see my vices and habits of non-productivity and envy within Frances, plus I also see other positive attributes I know I encompass and the guaranteed reward that ultimately comes about for all of us that strive.
Trailer:
As you can see, the entire movie is in black and white. However, it is a little bit more modern... Consider the movie to be in a permanent Instagram-like, beautifully filtered black and white. Not only does this characteristically sets the film apart from the others, but the lack of colour aids the viewer to carefully follow the screenplay and the unconcealed expressions of the actors' faces to further delve into the emotions they are to convey. The screenplay is another story. It is just so delightful. I do not remember the soundtrack, but the quotes!
"Sometimes it's good to do what you're supposed to do when you're supposed to do it."
- Frances
"Don't treat me like a three-hour brunch friend!"
- Frances
"I'm poor."
"That's actually offensive to poor people."
- Frances & Benji
"It's just this apartment is very... aware of itself."
- Sophie
- Frances
"Don't treat me like a three-hour brunch friend!"
- Frances
"I'm poor."
"That's actually offensive to poor people."
- Frances & Benji
"It's just this apartment is very... aware of itself."
- Sophie
..........And the recurring "undateable" chats between Benji and Frances!!!
"Are you still undateable?"
"Oh yes, very undateable."
To top it all off, Adam Driver is in this movie. And we all know that this guy has an irresistible charm even though he is SO unattractive. I can't get enough of him! His face! His voice! His next upcoming movie to hit the theatres is Tracks with Mia Wasikowska. That flick looks pretty amazing, too. Anyways, I didn't quote any of his lines, but they are great! In spite of his character being the most stereotypical and flat in the entire story, he nonchalantly delivers witty lines that generate laughs when they are needed to get away from Frances's anxiety and stress.
Frances Ha is most conveniently available on Netflix, so if you've got 90 minutes to spare... Prioritize this.
--- Follow my visual mood board @ I am Purpose on Tumblr ---
