Review of The Beguiled (2017) by Emily G — 22 Nov 2017

The Beguiled is directed and written by Sofia Coppola, and it stars Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, and Elle Fanning in a drama film about a group of students with teachers that have found a corporal from the Union Army during the American Civil War, and they are taking care of him while John McBurney (Colin Farrell) wants to help out what he can, even if it escalates quickly when sexual favors come into play here.

The trailers did curious me when it seemed that it was going to be a thriller of some kind, but after seeing her previous films, I had a doubt that that was what the movie was actually going to be. So I come to an end and caught up with Sofia Coppola's filmography that she wrote and directed, well except for her short film that she did before her first feature film and I would watch it and say what I think of it, but there's no way for me to do a review of Lick the Star unless I talk about it in one of Sofia Coppola's films.

So in comparisons with the source material films that Sofia Coppola has done, I think this is better than Marie Antoinette and a little better than The Virgin Suicides also. Sofia Coppola reunited with Kirsten Dunst and Elle Fanning as they are just as great here as her previous films, while bringing in Nicole Kidman and Colin Farrell who are fantastic as Nicole Kidman as she's playing a teacher that goes by the Christian ways, and it could've easily went with the route that makes her a horrible person, but was actually acting very caring for the students while being very cautious of Colin Farrell's character as they don't know him at all, while Colin Farrell's character is understanding about the situation that he's in, while being the luckiest man in the world that's in the house that's surrounded by a bunch of girls that are single, which even at points he chuckles about it, but when it escalates quickly, he gives a moment that's very menacing to watch.

The way it's filmed is really gorgeous, and even the aspect ratio I thought was an interesting choice too as it definitely doesn't look like a Hollywood film in recent years. The characters are so realized that you understand a lot about them, luckily lesser in exposition and more in visual than The Bling Ring but still has it which is fine when needed, and you understand both their perspectives on the situation when it escalated and realizes that things aren't going to be the same ever again.

The pacing is slow-building, which if you weren't a fan of Sofia Coppola films because of the pacing and think the trailers are going to convince you otherwise, don't bother because the trailers are a bit misleading to what the film is for its pacing.

I tried to think of any flaws, and I couldn't find one, which for non-fans can say that the pacing is slow, which I know that the film is not for everybody, but as for Sofia Coppola's 7th film, you kind of know what to expect from the director's style.

So for the film itself, The Beguiled is one of Sofia Coppola's best films, and it's sad that it has to end my adventure on her filmography, but when she makes her next film, I'll find a way to see it, and be looking forward to watching that film from one of my favorite underrated directors.