Love Lies Bleeding
I had to take a couple of days to decide how I felt about this film. Mostly, it’s pretty darned good, as we have all come to expect from the studio A24 (Everything Everywhere All At Once, Midsommer), but as I sat mesmerized near the end of the film there was a sequence that tested me. Still thinking about it. I think I liked it, but still not entirely sure. Before seeing the movie, I had to watch trailers for a half hour which irked me, but the film made up for it.
Watching the trailer for Love Lies Bleeding will give a glimpse of the plot and general feel of the movie, but kudos for not giving everything away in 90 seconds. The story is set in a western US city, they never say where exactly, in a lightly drawn 1980s. A lot of younger movie goers will have no idea about the reference to the Berlin Wall coming down, instead dating it as the stone age when everyone had to go to a telephone instead of carrying one around. Lou (Kristen Stewart, Twilight, Lizzie) answers the phone at the iron gym she works at, when she’s not shoulder deep unclogging a crap filled toilet. She’s listening to self help radio trying to kick a bad habit and does eventually give up smoking cigarettes, but the other bad habit is way harder. One day a gorgeous and ripped woman (Katy O’Brian, The Walking Dead, The Mandalorian ) walks into her dingy life, their eyes meet, and life gets infinitely more interesting. Jessie poses for Lou because it’s hot and because she’s training for a competition. Past that there’s not a lot I can really say about the plot except that it becomes increasingly violent, dangerous, and fantastical, and I encourage you not to read too much about the film before seeing it.
Director Rose Glass (Saint Maud) has created a movie that strongly gave me classic noirs like Pulp Fiction, Blood Simple and Bound. That last is the classic lesbian noir from the Wachowski twins before The Matrix. There are few scenes that last more than a minute, with a lot of cuts and close shots of faces and eyes and hands. Some of the imagery is inspired, like a blood red road Lou and Jessie drive down late one night. My only major problem is the music. It grated on my nerves too often, and I couldn’t tell what they were going for.
Every actor does at least a good job. Stewart doesn’t change much from role to role, but her energy and belief in the character is always great. O’Brian was a revelation to me because I hadn’t seen anything she’s been in. I was floored by how gorgeous she is, and how absolutely ripped. Think Jason Stathen ripped. She’s a Hoosier – yea! – and holds the film together like an old pro. Kinda like Ed Harris (Knightriders, The Abyss) does every time he’s on screen. He is terrifying as Lou’s father, not just because of the wild look they gave him. He even says “moist” at one point, so you know he’s evil. Dave Franco (the kid from Now You See Me) was nearly unrecognizable from the amiable youth I’m used to, and Anna Baryshnikov (yes, those Baryshnikovs) had me convinced she was doing meth in her trailer between takes.
Paradoxically, this absolutely violent and overtly sexual movie says a lot about love, especially how dangerous it can be. Love is no panacea for life’s travails. It is beautiful and dangerous and the movie plays with a lot of different forms like self-love, father-daughter, romantic love, abusive spouse, and for a couple of shining, sad moments, love for a lost sibling. Lou and Jessie are each called a monster by their family because they’re queer, but one family kicks out a minor from home and Lou’s dad is a stone cold killer. A viewer could debate who is the monster here, or if they are all monsters.
As the film got darker and meaner I found myself more firmly gripped by the story, not quite sure where it would go. Would they kill the queers? Would the bad guys win? Would everyone land in prison? It might make me crazy sometimes, but I do appreciate when a movie keeps me guessing and I was genuinely shocked more than a couple of times. If you like noir films, don’t mind queer sex and super graphic shots of dead people, absolutely see this movie. As a modern film with queer main characters that is not actually a “queer movie” I think it’s pretty darned good – except for the music. Even if you just want a glimpse of Ed Harris rocking a shiny bald head and shoulder length hair, see it, you won’t be sorry.
LINKS:
CFR: In Addition
So I remember seeing this movie trailer and thinking “Huh.” As must as I wanted to see it, it looked sad to me.
Why would I want to see it? Well first I really am THRILLED that Kirsten Stewart has discovered herself and knows she is a lesbian. She is so much happier, and I am happy for her! YAY! Also, wow. I’m depressed enough at how ugly I am getting in my old fat age, and seeing an incredible woman body builder, I just wish I had kept up powerlifting. Maybe I will start up again. It gives me such joy to see a woman put on muscle. Hooray! Oh, and the movie has a woman director, Rose Glass, so yay again.
Now I probably will never watch it as it looks very sad and desperate and well, I don’t need that right now in my life. So, I’m glad that Cranky C saw it and reviewed it. She’s the Best. Thanks Cranky!
Oh AND!
The only hard part about this movie for me is the title. Love Lies Bleeding is an EPIC song by Elton John that if I had become a movie director in my life, I knew the movie I would make and the scenes that would happen to this epic piece of music. Enjoy.
Chick Flicking Reviews 