Review of Frances Ha (2013) by Aditya M — 09 Dec 2014

After watching film after film, sometimes you begin to question your own scale. Ya know, your personal ratings scale? Whether it be out 5, 10, or 87 . . . I love watching movies and I love reviewing them and arguably there's no movie that's flawless. So how do you rate a film 10/10?

Frances Ha tells the story of (you guessed it) Frances. She's 27, she's passionate about dancing but it's barely putting food on the table, and she loves her best friend Sophie. In the first minute of the movie, you can sense the depth of their relationship. All of the in-jokes and the way they interact . . . they get each other. Right off the bat I couldn't help but admire how much detail is put into each and every scene. There's always something going on that's very telling about the characters and about Frances.

Greta Gerwig, who co-write the film with director Noah Baumbach, plays Frances like no other. There are roles that actors are great in and there are roles that no one else could play. No one else could play Frances as well as Greta can. She imbues Frances with such authenticity and endearment. She's absolutely charming, as much of the film is.

Those looking for a more "straightforward plot" may walk away disappointed. We follow Frances around days, months, years . . . who knows how long, but the editing style reflects the flighty nature of her character. As we watch Frances' life unfold, every scene rings true and there were so many of them I found myself identifying with. The awkward dinner conversations with acquaintances. The trepidation that comes with meeting your friend with their new significant other. Reconnecting with an old friend. The awkwardness of life.

It's all too easy to relate to Frances as she tries to make her way through life. The film is funny, charming and oftentimes poignant. A large part of that may have to do with your views on life in your late 20s, but there's no denying that this film is Greta Gerwig through and through, and what a lovely thing that is.

So that brings us to my rating scale. Sometimes I worry I can be too hard on films, but thankfully movies like Frances Ha come along and after watching it twice within the span of 24 hours (I couldn't help it), I have nothing but unabashed joy and admiration for the film. It's the kind of movie that makes me excited about film, and I really hope you take the time to experience it too.