Review of A Simple Favor (2018) by Dufreshest — 19 Sep 2018

A Simple Favor has funny punches which the acting partners deliver well. The cinematography is fine. In "Style and Medium in the Motion Pictures" Erwin Panofsky poses, "…that the screenplay, in contrast to the theater play, has no aesthetic existence independent of its performance, and that its characters have no aesthetic existence outside the actors," which I think is an interesting and valid point that I will make sure to more consciously consider with every viewing of a film.

 .

Do I completely ignore the female body throughout the film? No, I'm not going to. There are a lot of pretty, beautiful, and gorgeous women in the world, for a variety of their reasons. Yet, attraction needs assistance. I'm a single male. The song "Man in Me" by The Persuasions comes to mind whenever I think of Blake Lively playing her role in the film, not because she is doing that for me, but because it'll be amazing to attribute that song to a woman that does (in accompaniment with "Do It Again" by The Staple Singers) affect me in such a way (not in the conniving-illegal-murderous sense). .

A Simple Favor touches on very sensitive topics such as alcoholism, drug abuse, depression, debt, fraud, incest, illegitimate children, and childhood in a touch-and-go comical-drama-full whirlwind. The story is decent though seems to scatter about in a way that still makes sense (because it's like a walk through of a to be mystery with surprises as no surprises bent on surprises…yeah). A Simple Favor is an awkward film that really has a way of crushing vices.

I think the film uses hysteria to flirt with its audience members. The film gets messy (which makes sense in accordance with context), and I think another title may be more suitable. Nonetheless, A Simple Favor is entertaining.

Overall Grade: C+/B-.

 - K.D.

If you're into Poetry and other bits of creativity, check out my Instagram: @Dufreshest.