I was flipping around one night and caught the second half of this film, so admittedly I haven't seen it from the beginning. I was immediately captivated by the dialogue and chemistry between the two leads. Or rather, I was captivated by Lizzie Brocheré's performance, and I got drawn into the burgeoning relationship between these two flawed people. It reminded me a little of "Before Sunrise," one of my favorite romantic films, for its honest, realistic dialogue and the way you get to "fall in love" right along with these two.
*** May Contain Spoilers *** I was hopeful about the aspects of BDSM, thinking the film might try and treat the subject with realism and sensitivity--unfortunately, instead, those elements just seemed to turn into a plot vehicle at the end. And the end... ugh. If this had been a book I would have chucked it across the room. It just turned so ridiculously melodramatic and silly. I can see what the writer intended--another tragic take on "Romeo and Juliet," but it just didn't fly with me. And the implication that BDSM led them down that path is just insulting, to paraphrase what another reviewer said.
Overall, I gave it a 6. The dialogue and performances kept me engaged, and I was pleased to see such range in Lizzie Brocheré, whom I'd seen only in "American Horror Story" previously. I hope she goes on to bigger and better things--she deserves it. The writer/director/star, Eric Schaeffer, well, he should maybe get back to writing some more, and come up with his own endings instead of ripping off Shakespeare, and not in a good way.
*** May Contain Spoilers *** I was hopeful about the aspects of BDSM, thinking the film might try and treat the subject with realism and sensitivity--unfortunately, instead, those elements just seemed to turn into a plot vehicle at the end. And the end... ugh. If this had been a book I would have chucked it across the room. It just turned so ridiculously melodramatic and silly. I can see what the writer intended--another tragic take on "Romeo and Juliet," but it just didn't fly with me. And the implication that BDSM led them down that path is just insulting, to paraphrase what another reviewer said.
Overall, I gave it a 6. The dialogue and performances kept me engaged, and I was pleased to see such range in Lizzie Brocheré, whom I'd seen only in "American Horror Story" previously. I hope she goes on to bigger and better things--she deserves it. The writer/director/star, Eric Schaeffer, well, he should maybe get back to writing some more, and come up with his own endings instead of ripping off Shakespeare, and not in a good way.