Review of mother! (2017) by Daniel A — 17 Sep 2017

'mother!' is defiantly cinematic insanity and the most fucked up masterpiece I have ever had the pleasure (and discomfort) to watch. The plot to mother! is A couple's relationship is tested when uninvited guests arrive at their home, disrupting their tranquil existence. Mother (Jennifer Lawrence) is rebuilding/renovating HIM's (Javier Bardem) house after it has been burnt to the ground. HIM is a writer and is stuck but when un-invited guests arrive at their house, he gets inspiration. Then things begin to spiral out of control.

Director 'Darren Aronofsky' has really hit the nail on the head with 'mother!' in my opinion. While at the same time creating the most controversial film of the century which you are either going to love or hate. There is no middle ground. 'Darren Aronofsky' is easily one of my favourite directors of all time after watching this film. His vision he has for each and every detail is astounding and extremely pleasurable to watch on screen. 'Darren Aronofsky' also wrote the screenplay for this which is, in my opinion, one of the most thought provoking, messed up, filled with allegory screenplay I have ever seen translated to screen. Everything is so unpredictable that no matter how much you read on the internet nothing will prepare you for what mother! has in store. The performances in this film are easily again, some of best performances of the decade. With 'Jennifer Lawrence' taking the spotlight. This isn't The Hunger Games, Passengers or X-Men 'Jennifer Lawrence' this is Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle and Winters Bone 'Jennifer Lawrence'. The performance by her in this film is un-arguably the best performance I have seen her do, or anyone for that matter, in a film. If 'Jennifer Lawrence' does not win or at least get nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars, then ill riot. She portrays every emotion so differently and unexpectedly. She really is a triumph. 'Javier Bardem' and 'Michelle Pfeiffer' also give some of the best performances of their careers. Apart from Jennifer Lawrence's character each and everyone of the characters are extremely unlikable but for reason. They aren't annoying at all. Everyone in this film is the villain, which is a genius move on Darren Aronofsky's behalf.

I went into this film expecting no visual effects at all but I walked out shocked as the whole last 20 minutes of the film relied heavily on visual effects. And for a $30 Million budget, the effects are top notch. And if it weren't for the limited amount of time they're used I would say that it would have a chance for a Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects. And once again in a 'Darren Aronofsky' film, the Cinematography is top notch. With 90% of the film on Jennifer's character the cinematographer really brings something different and unique to the table. The film has no score at all but what makes up for that is the sound editing and mixing. Every single movement that happens off or on screen can be heard and there is a sort of eeriness about it as the film sometimes uses ringing from a dropped glass or something similar to set the tone. Defiantly deserves an oscar win for sound. Finally the pacing in 'mother!' is some of the most uneasy pacing in a film of all time. And I mean that in a good way. The way the film build up tension from act 1 to act 3 is phenomenal and it leaves you to think, how did all that happen is such a short amount of time.

Overall 'mother!' will leave audiences thinking and talking about it for years to come and I have no doubt in my mind that it'll be studied in film schools for generations. The world will come to realise that this film is such a fucked up masterpiece that they won't be able to resist watching it for a second and third time. With stunning directing and screen writing and easily the best performance to come out of 'Jennifer Lawrence' and some of the best performances to come out of 'Javier Bardem' and 'Michelle Pfeiffer'. Exceptionally written characters and extremely well done plot twists. Also some unexpectedly shockingly great visual effects, cinematography, sound editing and mixing all while keeping one of the best paces in a film in cinematic history. I give 2017's 'mother!' a 10/10.