Review of Alex of Venice (2015) by Paul D — 10 Apr 2016

I think that what Alex of Venice brings to the table is its particular tone, a sense of middle-of-the-road, relaxing realism that successfully sucks in the viewer in a similar manner to like minded films such as Bella, Room, The One I Love, Like Crazy and other films that mark the best of the indie genre.

Alex of Venice and these other films, to some degree, ride an ambiguous tone emotionally and aesthetically. Unlike the washed out grey of Inside Llewyn Davis, the endless artistry of Knight of Cups or the pretentious dribble of Clouds of Sils Maria, Alex of Venice is earnest and minimalist, looking to allow its actors to interact naturally and capture what goes on from there.

It doesn't devolve into unnecessary "artistic" shots and the runtime is perfect for the subject matter. Although the storyline is extremely unoriginal and fairly predictable, Alex of Venice chooses to work from a well worn base in order to strive instead for quality and a steady realism centered around a really fantastic performance by Mary Elizabeth Winstead and a capable supporting cast.

It isn't the greatest film ever but you get the feeling that Messina and crew know that. Alex of Venice takes itself just as seriously as it should and the results leave you feeling a rather pleasant mix of thoughtfulness and relaxation.

And in the end, Alex walks off not with a man but with her child, the best exit one can ask for in today's day and age. I look forward to what Messina has in store for us next.