Review of Barefoot (2014) by Jeff B — 29 Feb 2016

Rachel Wood and Speedman give a wonderful performance and their interactions are sincere and heartfelt. The most endearing aspect of this film is Daisy's innocence (Rachel Woods). True innocence is always captivating, and Rachel Woods brings it on in droves with great precision and skill. Speedman's character, Jay, is rather cliché: he's the irresponsible eternal-adolescent male of rich parents who gets in trouble with the underworld. Stop me if the cliché goes on too long. But it serves the film well in the end. You just have to get by the development or what you've seen only a couple dozen times previously.

Of course even the conclusion is typical Hollywood: Ray's debt to the loan shark is paid off by dad, Daisy is almost miraculously released by the reticent Dr. Bertlemen who early on was giving Ray no chance of reconciling with Daisy. But outside of that, the connection that Ray and Daisy have is based in pure, respectful, authentic love. We aren't sure if it's going to last, but we've had so much fun watching them build that bond that we can't help but be on their side.

Sure, the film has it's issues, but overall a very satisfying message on the importance of the authenticity and power of true love.