I must confess to being a wee road movie junkie, because of their escape from the three act formula and slightly more free-wheeling approach (Lousy puns intended).
For an indie directorial debut, Miss Stevens' casting certainly punches about its' weight. I'm just not sure that it has a story to tell. Miss Stevens does a good job of effortlessly establishing imperfect, yet likeable characters and their individual "issues". As essentially a road movie, that is a good start. It's just that after a solid start things, well.... stall (no more puns).
Lily Rabe convinces us that Miss Stevens is a good sort of person, struggling to move away from the shadow of her childhood lost and private grief. She is clearly good at what she does, inspires some despite her imperfections. I'm just unconvinced that her perspective or circumstances are changed by the credits.
There is definite tension and intimacy between Miss Stevens and the supporting cast. Anthony Quintal's Sam is perhaps an exception, portraying a fairly sane and sorted type, perhaps ironically in light of the YouTuber's recent history.
The script gave Lili Reinhart very little to work with as Margot, yet despite this and Margot's thoroughly dislikable traits, Reinhart delivers a surprising anti-hero performance. Of all the characters, it's her's that finds some meaning from this journey.
Timothee Chalamet strongly delivers on Bill's manic episodes after he stops his bipolar meds. However his feelingless medicated stage lacks depth and doesn't really work. Chalamet is excellent when portraying inner feelings, but the challenge of playing "blah" seems to have beaten him.
Overall I felt that the script was more of a diary entry than something which significantly impacted the characters lives. I'd have enjoyed it more if greater creative emphasis had been placed on the impact of these events, rather than simply the chronology of them. Even leaving behind one's disbelief, two days is too short for those impacts to happen and be digested. It's not a bad movie, but I left feeling rather unsatisfied.
For an indie directorial debut, Miss Stevens' casting certainly punches about its' weight. I'm just not sure that it has a story to tell. Miss Stevens does a good job of effortlessly establishing imperfect, yet likeable characters and their individual "issues". As essentially a road movie, that is a good start. It's just that after a solid start things, well.... stall (no more puns).
Lily Rabe convinces us that Miss Stevens is a good sort of person, struggling to move away from the shadow of her childhood lost and private grief. She is clearly good at what she does, inspires some despite her imperfections. I'm just unconvinced that her perspective or circumstances are changed by the credits.
There is definite tension and intimacy between Miss Stevens and the supporting cast. Anthony Quintal's Sam is perhaps an exception, portraying a fairly sane and sorted type, perhaps ironically in light of the YouTuber's recent history.
The script gave Lili Reinhart very little to work with as Margot, yet despite this and Margot's thoroughly dislikable traits, Reinhart delivers a surprising anti-hero performance. Of all the characters, it's her's that finds some meaning from this journey.
Timothee Chalamet strongly delivers on Bill's manic episodes after he stops his bipolar meds. However his feelingless medicated stage lacks depth and doesn't really work. Chalamet is excellent when portraying inner feelings, but the challenge of playing "blah" seems to have beaten him.
Overall I felt that the script was more of a diary entry than something which significantly impacted the characters lives. I'd have enjoyed it more if greater creative emphasis had been placed on the impact of these events, rather than simply the chronology of them. Even leaving behind one's disbelief, two days is too short for those impacts to happen and be digested. It's not a bad movie, but I left feeling rather unsatisfied.