Mother!
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem
Directed by: Darren Aronofsky
Rated: R
*This review will contain mild spoilers.
Oh, Mother! The most divisive film of 2017 has arrived and it's completely insane. While the advertising campaign would lead you to believe Mother is a petrifying horror film, that is not the case. This is an art house allegory that slowly descends into chaos.
At surface level, Mother is about a poet and his wife (Javier Bardem and Jennifer Lawrence) living in serenity in their secluded home. As he spends his days writing, she remodels the house to make it their "paradise." Everything seems great for the two, until an uninvited man appears (Ed Harris). Soon after, his wife shows up. (Michelle Pfieffer) The two are rude and disruptive. Mother begs her husband to kick the strange guests out of their home. Instead of asking them to leave, the poet finds that the guests help as creative inspiration for his writing. Not long after, people continue to show up to the house with no end in sight and little regard for Mother's wishes. What is happening? And why won't they leave the house?
I truly enjoyed Mother's first 2 acts. It's clear there's a lot of symbolism at play and unpacking it all is quite fascinating. However, the last act of this movie is a complete mess. Director Darren Aronofsky is known for letting his films build to massive finales. For instance, Black Swan contains one of the best cinematic endings I've seen in recent memory. Unfortunately, that's not the case with Mother! The quick descent into hysteria is frenetic and obnoxious. While the first two acts are mysterious and suspenseful, the chaos of the last act is maddening. It feels like we're being hit over the head with a hammer for the final 30 minutes.
Despite its messy finale, there's no denying Mother is well filmed. Cinematographer Matthew Libatique uses close ups and over-the-shoulder shots almost exclusively here. Jennifer Lawrence's face is the sole focus and the audience watches the events unfold through her point of view.
Speaking of Lawrence, her performance is quite impressive. She begins the film in a peaceful state, but a dreadful sense of anxiety slowly takes over. Are her fears legitimate or paranoia? As strange events continue, she captures the terror of her situation. Why doesn't anyone listen to her? Is this a nightmare that won't end? She screams, but no one listens.
As I left the theater and began to discuss Mother with my friend I wondered: Is this a film about God, Mother Earth, and the creation of humanity? The first half would certainly lead you to believe so as it symbolically takes us through the book of Genesis in a contained environment. Is this a film reflecting on the creative process of the male artist (maybe Aronofsky himself)? The poet must let people in for inspiration, but in order to gain the inspiration and praise that he craves, he neglects the relationship with the most important person in his life. Perhaps it's a film about the hardships of women in the household? They work thanklessly day and night, yet men receive all of the admiration. All of these themes are at play in Mother, but Aronofsky never fully commits to one. That is the film's biggest issue. It never finds its true identity. Aronofsky tries to blend biblical, sociopolitical, and personal themes in quite a messy package claiming the film is "open to interpretation".
I appreciate the creativity involved in Mother, but left the theater feeling disappointed with the final product. Maybe you'll love it. Maybe you'll hate it. I suppose it's all open to interpretation.
My Rating: 6/10