Martha Marcy May Marlene

I am kind of shocked about the rapturous praise this movie has gotten in some parts. At the same time, I don't think I disliked it quite as much as Sir Balgavy.

While I was watching it, I had a number of thoughts.

- the movie looks good.
- that Olsen girl is easy in the eyes.
- cults are awesome.
- cults are creepy.
- Big Love should have been more like this.

- i like the pacing of the movie.

- this is getting a little boring.

- how much time is left?

- oh, i like the house break-in scenes

- this movie is trying so hard to be subtle that it isn't as good as it could be.

- there are so many things this movie could have done to be a bit better.

- John Hawkes is awesome though.

- ok, I liked that ending.

Then I met up with Marc later in the evening and got into a major negative loop.

A day or so after that, I listened to an Elvis Mitchell interview with the director. I spent the first 5 minutes thinking I had misjudged the movie and then spent the next 23 minutes realizing that I hadn't.

A number of days later, I'd like to officially proclaim that I'm solidly behind this movie as being okay. Perhaps even a solid B-. It will entertain you. It might annoy you. It will make you think a bit. But it sure as hell isn't close to being one of the year's best as way too many reviews make it out to be.

Directed by Sean Durkin
2011
Time Sq. 25