I think this was an interesting film that turned out okay but could have been great. That said, it's definitely still worth a watch! More in-depth review below:
In my opinion, something as complex as this would most likely best be explored through something like a small mini-series.
There was just so much more I wanted to know.
There is certainly a fine line between just the right amount and type of information, and overly-expository, exhausting scenes.
I can really appreciate that this was a film centered around a male victim of grooming and SA. Boys and men also face these problems in society, but due to the patriarchy and toxic masculinity, they often don't feel valid and/or safe sharing or reporting experiences like sexual harassment, assault, rape and/or grooming.
All genders and sexualities can face these horrors, and they deserve to have their voices heard.
As for the acting, of course it was great! But an absolute shout out to Charles Melton for truly bringing this deep character to life.
In my opinion, something as complex as this would most likely best be explored through something like a small mini-series.
- I spent the whole movie being confused about the children (I guess the graduating teen boy and girl were "the twins" and they had an older daughter), those three being Joe and Gracie's, as well as Gracie's children from her past marriage. A mini-series could give us a more in-depth look at the family unit, where they were in this journey and how they were feeling.
- I really didn't care for Portman's character being an actress preparing for a role. That's just a personal one for me, but I also think that story-wise, something like a journalist or author writing a piece/book about their "relationship" in its early days while interviewing them in their present day marriage would lend itself better to presenting a fully formed story. Portman's character seemed a little suspect, so maybe that was a significant point the writers and director wanted to portray, which could be justification for this style, and I'm not even fully against it. I just think the story of this family is already messy, dark and complex as is. It has my attention and I care more about learning about them than I do another outside character. Let the journalist be more of a framing device than another deep character to explore.
- I would have loved things like flashbacks, old news stories on VHS being replayed, maybe old diary entries.
- I desperately wanted to learn more about Joe. I would have liked a really hashed out conversation or argument between him and Gracie where more was revealed (tastefully). While we did see Joe sort of possibly coming to some really horrific, traumatizing realizations that could lead to him seeking help and leaving Gracie, I think seeing a bit more of a light at the end of the tunnel for Joe and his kids in some final shots would have been satisfying and cathartic. Maybe we'd see Joe (or Joe *and* his kids together) sitting in a therapists office, about to tell his/their story to someone who can give him/them guidance and help. Maybe we see him wave his kids off to college and then board a plane alone to Mexico to go see the butterflies; maybe he's even texting that woman who also raises and releases butterflies, and we see that he's going to meet her there.
There was just so much more I wanted to know.
There is certainly a fine line between just the right amount and type of information, and overly-expository, exhausting scenes.
I can really appreciate that this was a film centered around a male victim of grooming and SA. Boys and men also face these problems in society, but due to the patriarchy and toxic masculinity, they often don't feel valid and/or safe sharing or reporting experiences like sexual harassment, assault, rape and/or grooming.
All genders and sexualities can face these horrors, and they deserve to have their voices heard.
As for the acting, of course it was great! But an absolute shout out to Charles Melton for truly bringing this deep character to life.