When Quentin Tarantino publishes his favorite movies of the year I always take note. I know my tastes aren’t exactly the same as his but there are always movies in the list that are unexpected (like this year’s The Lone Ranger) or some I have not heard much about. Frances Ha falls into the last category. It is a black and white movie and is mostly set in New York. With an open mind I decided to check it out.
Frances is a dancer who shares an apartment with her best friend she met in school. The two are inseparable, but as they are in their late twenties and priorities and relationships start changing so does their friendship. It is something Frances has a hard time dealing with. She tries to come across as confident, being able to cope with these changes but there is a sense of panic, of not wanting to deal with this new reality.
The movie feels very loosely shot and edited and that is something you either can enjoy or don’t. I had a bit of trouble getting into it, maybe also because the way Frances deals with her issues is so far removed from my own experiences. A movie should be able to pull you into someone else’s life and it did not completely do that for me. The style reminded me a bit of the French New Wave genre, which I admit I’ve never been a fan of. Greta Gerwig is a joy to watch however, putting a lot of emotion in her performance. I can certainly understand why Tarantino likes it, but in this case it is another example of a movie where I have a different taste compared to him.
Surely one of my favorite “mumblecore” films since Swanberg’s “Nights and Weekends.” Greta and Noah are great names in the American indie scene and following their films in my lonesome justified that justly. “LOL” and “Hannah Takes the Stairs” are titles worth to take a look at, including “Nights and Weekends” with Joe Swanberg.
Mumblecores are great discoveries for me, given the plethora of brainless blockbusters in Hollywood. It’s good to think that there are this sort of films in American contemporary cinema.
Nice review, too.
I have heard the term mumblecore more, but never really investigated what it was exactly. Don’t know if it is my thing, but guess I should give some others at least a try.
Thanks Armando!
For me, this is Noah Baumbach’s best work as I think it has that great mix of French New Wave sensibilities with the classic look of late 70s Woody Allen as well as a bit of Leos Carax in the mix. I see it as a great film about growing pains and the uncertainties of being someone in their 20s. I’m also hoping that Greta Gerwig gets some recognition.
Have not seen more of his work I think. I liked the visual style…
Good review Nostra. It’s a movie that makes you happy to live the life you live now, but also the life you have ahead of you. Never expected to get that idea in my head after watching a Noah Baumbach flick, but hey, the world is chock-full of surprises.
Thank you Dan. Yeah, it does have that message and it did manage to get that across although I somehow just wanted a bit more out of its story.
I have a lot of ambivalence about Tarentino, kind of a love-hate relationship. Great review, regardless 🙂
Yeah, I generally love his movies, usually don’t agree with his movie choices in his top 10 lists 🙂
I’m a big fan of Baumbach’s work, Nostra, so in looking forward to this one. It does look like the type that either for you or not, though.
Not so much for me then 🙂
Can’t say I’ve ever really experienced this kind of film before, Nostra. Sounds interesting – if QT rates it, it’s worth at least one look if only for the experience. Nice review!!
You should give it a try Rodney, interested to hear what you think about it.
Good review and your take is along the same lines as mine. I thought it was overrated here in the States.
I respect people loving it, but it was not something I could get into.
Sorry you didn’t like it. I loved it though. I agree that Gerwig was a joy to see
Yeah, she was very good.
Nice review. Still have yet to check this out, but I’m a fan of Noah Baumbach, though his work is a bit polarizing.
Seeing other comments I think chances are that you will really enjoy it.
I’m not usually a fan of director Noah Baumbach’s misanthropic worldview. I suspect it’s the presence of Greta Gerwig, with whom he is romantically involved in real life, that makes the story a much more uplifting experience. Apparently love really does conquer all. Frances Ha is not anywhere near as negative as Noah’s films usually are. If you want to know what I’m talking about, watch Margot at the Wedding.
I have not seen any of his other films, so can’t say much about his work, but it probably isn’t for me.
a fan of this one despite i’m not a fan of mumblecore 🙂 I fall in love pretty hard because i think i can relate with the Frances very strongly.
I did not know that Tarantino is a fan of this one too!
It is always cool when you have a personal connection with a movie!