Review of Sleeping Beauty (2011) by Octavian — 25 Sep 2014

While I absolutely appreciate a film that leaves certain things to the imagination, "Sleeping Beauty" took it too far. I was not able to come up with my own conclusions because I had no idea where to start.

Although speculating, I think Julia Leigh was going out of her way to make sure the movie was vague and artsy. She was clearly trying too hard. I disagree with other reviewers that Emily Browning's performance left something to be desired.

I think she performed as well as the script and directing allowed. She gave little glances and expressions that showed small changes. The movie was supposed to demonstrate Lucy's lack of emotion, her distance from her own reality, which was intensified by the lack of a score.

Although she clearly broke a few times from that pattern, she is the type to keep her emotions stifled. I wanted the movie to be so much better than it was. I was holding out hope that the ending might shed some light, but if anything, it made it worse.

I am disappointed that an interesting concept and elegant cinematography was quite wasted.