Michael Heseldin

Almost five stars - on the basis that how you feel about a film is entirely subjective so these are my opinions (please note some potential spoilers ahead). l found the movie interesting, well acted and moving. On the technical side great sets and cinematography. The audience l was with (UK showing, 7:30pm) was pretty full and the audience 90 per cent female ages mostly late teens to early thirties. After about 10 minutes into the film the audience had quietened down and watched and listened attentively throughout - always a good sign (the teenager sat next to me gesticulated in almost silent frustration when the lead character made bad choices). Yes, Blake Lively may be a decade or so too old for the character of Lily (according to what l understand people have said, comparing the film to the source novel - l haven't read it myself) which somewhat sques the character dynamics. Also, Blake Lively can never be described as "frumpy" and when she dresses as such it comes over more like cosplay. It must be also stated that publicity for the film can at best be described as tactless and has given a false impression as to it's subject matter - which is domestic violence. However, there are a lot of what I would describe as "false negatives" in reviews of this film. Some have stated it is shallow and from the point of view of "privileged" rich people - as if domestic violence is only limited to people on lower socio-economic scales (if so, what does that say about their own prejudices?). Of course, the whole point is that domestic violence affects all levels of society. Likewise, it has been said that the style of the film effectively "romantizes" domestic violence - if that is their understanding then they have completely misunderstood the film. The film is told from the point of view of Lily who is at best an unreliable narrator and is in denial about the abuse she personally suffers - and indeed effectively makes excuses for it, because she is in love with her abuser. In my lifetime l have known several people - both women and men - who came from what could be described as "privileged" backgrounds and suffered abuse from their partners but were in denial about it at the time it happened. So for me much of the film rings true (though the ending is a bit too neatly tied up). Others have criticised the movie for "clunky" dialogue and inappropriate humour. Have they listened to how people talk irl? It is largely clunky dialogue and inappropriate humour - that is humanity for you! As long as the dialogue isn't bad - and in my view it isn't - l don't mind. Another point made is that the film isn't "gritty" enough for the subject matter. However, a more brutal, unrelenting portrayal would attract a far smaller audience (and some perhaps for the wrong reasons?). This film handles the core subject matter sensitively and without being too graphic and so achieves a far wider audience than otherwise might have been the case - surely a good thing? From the screening l saw it certainly seemed to resonate with the (mostly) female audience. In my own subjective opinion a film well worth seeing.