Review of Frances Ha (2013) by Nick M — 02 Jun 2013

"Frances Ha" as a film is actually quite comparable to the character of Frances. It's messy, it's a little unfocused, it's far from perfect, it struggles to find its footing, but, at the same time, it's fun, it's charming, it's really likable, and you find yourself rooting for it, forgiving it for its flaws.

Don't come here looking for a film that's going to break any new ground. You know this story. A twenty something hasn't quite figured out life and keeps pushing through the myriads of problems that come her way on the road to self-discovery and self-acceptance. At times, it even feels like a college thesis. It's got a heavy DIY feel. The dialogue's a bit overwritten and some of the line reading is very unnatural.

So, despite all of that, why do I enjoy this movie so much? Well, I suppose the lion's share of the credit goes to co-writer and star Greta Gerwig, who just has such a real, interesting presence on screen that I never wanted to stop watching her. The something really fun and likable about her, even when she's making obviously bad decisions. I just wanted her to succeed. She made a fan out of me.

It certainly is a film for other twenty-something lost souls trying to figure out life. It's a film for the art student, the filmmaker, the dancer, the scatterbrained, the wallflower, the introvert, and the outcast. To others, Frances may be a frustrating character. If you can't relate to her or empathize with her at all, you may be really annoyed with Frances and her journey. But, for the rest of us, there's just a lot that will ring true. This film is flawed. Frances is flawed. And those of us who will enjoy the film most? Well, we're flawed, too.