Tag: Molly Gordon

AM I OK (2022)

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Directed By: Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne 

Written By: Lauren Pomerantz 

Cinematography: Cristina Dunlap

Editor: Kayla Emter and Glen Scantlebury 

Cast: Dakota Johnson, Sonoya Mizuno, Kiersey Clemons, Jermaine Fowler, Molly Gordon, Sean Hayes, Whitmer Thomas, Tig Notaro, Odessa A’Zion 

Lucy and Jane have been best friends their entire lives. Only when Lucy embarks on a personal journey, will she face a test of her friendship, and her sense of self, on a path she may not be entirely ready to take.

Strangely, this film was delayed as it was finished in 2022 and Dakota Johnson filmed this movie back to back with THE LOST DAUGHTER & CHA-CHA REAL SMOOTH in which she gave acclaimed performances in the two other films here maybe this is where she started to feel fatigued as her performance here seems to falter in comparison to the other two. as this film only became available in 2024 HBO Max, bought it right out of Sundance and then waited two years to finally release it.

This film is pretty simple as you pretty much know what’s going to happen along the way you’re just wondering what kind of presentation you’re going to get.

One can appreciate that it deals with the situation more realistically, Where it takes big decisions, and instead of presenting them as that. It more tackles them a little more subtle and a little more minute detail.

That is the thing the film has going for it. The two protagonists, unfortunately, are a bit annoying as the one character by Dakota Johnson can’t seem to make any decisions in her life, and once she makes a big dramatic one she is still so wishy-washy her best friend winningly played by Sonoya Mizuno is the hipster who has a successful career who pretty much has taken care of her most of her life and now that a big changes land to separate the other is jealous. It seems that the other one is leaving and the more successful one finally realizes they don’t necessarily need the other person as they have all these other things going for them the date for the move comes more challenges come her way once she realizes who truly has always been there for her who truly is her friend.

Another aspect, I can appreciate about the film is that while it does deal with a character discovering their homosexuality, the film doesn’t become only about that or you know, finding love and romance, it shows the In and out of dating as a queer person. Also, what looks to be a love match could just be a hookup and Sometimes might just be looking for a good time or experimental.

Along the way, the film throws in quirky characters not so much situations, but weird reactions to situations. That makes it more like a movie or even just a story where little light touches are made to enhance the more dramatic or even comedic storylines.

The characters are supposed to be likable, but at least for this critic, I found them more annoying than anything, by the end. It only enhances that there for one another or one seems more like a mother and the other child, and even when one character comes to realize her sexuality, even then she goes into it so wishy-washy that at first, you believe the film is going to be her realizing she’s in love with her best friend and how her best friend deals with it but instead it’s just they are having midlife crisis, reaching different milestones. Though out of the two I could stand Mizuno’s character the most. When her character experiences a downfall, it is more truly felt and surprising.

the successful one feels more like he could’ve been a gay best friend type character as he seems to be there to drop in and tell a few jokes disappear and only adds drama for one scene when he decides conveniently to tell his girlfriend that he’s probably not going to move with her.

this phone just wasn’t for me. You have to be in the right mood and have the right amount of patience to watch this film, but it’s not horrible. It just wasn’t that great. 

The film does offer some prime California background and locations that all look modern and meditatively beautiful.

Grade: C 

SHIVA BABY (2021)

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Written & Directed By: Emma Seligman
Cinematography: Maria Rusche
Editor: Hanna Park 

Cast: Rachel Sennot, Polly Draper, Molly Gordon, Fred Melamed, Dianna Agron, Jackie Hoffman, Danny Deferrari, Glynis Bell, 

At a Jewish funeral service with her parents, a college student runs into her sugar daddy.

The film works as a character piece. Even though it takes place mostly in one location and is full of colorful characters who add comedy and point of view to the story. It all centers around the main character played by Rachel Sennot in a subtle and ultimately powerful performance. As she is out under high pressure unknowingly in a continuous situation. She begins to unravel in all sorts of ways.

What makes the film so strong is that while there is comedy it plays almost like a horror film or thriller. As the score seems to help tighten the rope around the character and set in such a crowded space there are fewer and fewer places to turn.

Even as she is struggling to keep her sugar daddy who is far from a Prince Charming and the longer he stays at the party. The more his farm diminishes, but he is the only thing she had control over and loses him. She will feel like she has nothing. So she keeps trying harder and harder to lessen herself to keep and seduce him. 

As it seems scene to scene she is running out of places to hide or things to distract her as she gets more worried and more people to talk about her and the danger of her secrets being revealed. As she tries to make things seem normal.

Even as she tries to seduce a guy who is her sugar daddy back and you begin to wonder is it more about the power and strength as he isn’t all that appealing or beating the competition for him in his successful wife who seems to know more than she lets on. Or did she actually fall for him as something more than just a client?

Is she just desperate to keep the status quo as anything different would force her to grow up? As the man ends up not being all that appealing. Which one can tell early on before any revelations are brought to the table 

The whole cast is eye-opening, they are funny and emotional. Though Polly Draper as the roads mother has the right amount of emotions and judgment to be frustrating and sweet

Rachel Sennot as the lead is a revelation as she plays so many emotions and feelings all at once. Even though it is mostly through facial expressions and actions more than dialogue. Not to mention her natural beauty comes through when being plain but also wants to be looked upon with desire.

The film also offers us a bi-sexual lead where the film does have sex and sexual language the film doesn’t become all about or into about the character’s sexuality as their defining trait 

This film could have easily been more of a simple dramedy that would Feel more staged or at least stage-bound the way it is shown and protested here is short but keeps the audience on their toes as each revelation or emotion feels like a jump scare or is looked upon with dread. 

Though it offers up a few surprises, by the end it leaves the characters uncomfortable but in it’s own way a happy ending. 

Thankfully for all the awkwardness and Cringe-worthy conversations and situations that play like horror the film still has its fair share of laughs and humor.

Grade: B+