Movie Man Darian Watching All Night Long

On The Rocks 

This is a honest take about a midlife crises in a emotional real way sprinkled with a great amount of humour that is brought brilliantly to the screen by the always charismatic Bill Murray. This is a calming film that centres around a father and his daughter trying to find out if her husband is being unfaithful and the ability to keep the plot line so straight forward and really focuses in on the two characters and their emotional depths and I loved Sofia’s deep approach to a rather simple story. On the Rocks dances between humour and hard hitting drama and both pack a powerful punch. 

Firstly, This film is a beautiful meditative story about father and daughter trying to bond over years of time lost. As the film is told of a span of about 2 weeks and really focuses in on the  over the top fun antics her father is and then the grounded and emotionally exhausted person the daughter is so their was a great balance of comedy and drama and one never outweighed the other. As the subject of the story is very serious as in a nutshell it’s about midlife crises and trying to realize why a lot of middle aged people aren’t that happy anymore as they once were and it’s taken in a very heavy execution of that message. That being said it takes time to breath and also crack a laugh as well with the comic relief and dry humour and I haven’t seen a film really focuses on such a real topic like this the way Sofia tackles it. As theirs tons of films that take on the subject of midlife crises but theirs thought provoking questions and discussions throughout the film brought greatly to the screen by the sharp dialogue that will really make you think. As it’s so authentic to how someone would feel so emotionally exhausted and questioning so much in their life and the film holds no punches it’s truly a film that feels very truthful to the subject and incredibly realistic. Their was never a moment I was not engaged into the story or the great performances at the centre of it. 

Secondly, The performances are incredible by Rashida Jones and Bill Murray! Both give very different performances in the approach to their characters. As Rashida gives this emotionally bare performance where you can see bits and pieces of her heart being chipped away from the inside as she sees her life falling apart around her. The only support system she has is her father keeping her optimistic and trying to ask her what happened to the fun care free daughter I raised. Rashida gives an emotionally raw and honest performance that will tear you from the inside. Then you have Bill Murray who yes brings the charismatic charming and fun we have come to expect from him. That being said he does give a very emotionally touching performance that is very raw at some points and he goes places emotionally he has not gone since St Vincent, Broken Flowers and Lost in Translation. Their is this tenderness he brings that is humorous and also emotionally captivating. Both stars deliver incredible performances that will draw you in the moment it starts. All the performances in this film is great but its the two leading performances you will not be able to look away from. 

Lastly, On The Rocks is one of the most emotionally truthful takes on midlife crises and trying to find out your place in this world. Sofia Coppola brings an intense honesty to the story that will have you moved and incredibly engaged all the way through. The film at times can feel slow in pace but never was a problem for me at all. The sheer charismatic and electric performances given by Rashida and Murray will have you blown away. On The Rocks is funny, heartfelt and emotionally sincere a truly enjoyable film with outstanding performances I recommended everyone go check this film out. 

This film centres around a mother who’s husband is always away on business trips to the point she starts questioning his faithfulness and so her playboy eccentric father go out on New York to see what he really is up to

Rated R : Some Language and sexual references 

Rashida Jones : Rashida delivers a heartbreaking performance that will have you in a puddle of tears! Rashida is an actress I see pop up in a ton of indie films and comedy roles and to see her working with the great Sofia Coppola was a delight to see. She takes on a really juicy dramatic part in this film and shows she is more then capable to deliver some truly hard hitting moments that will impact you like a punch in the chest. She plays a woman going through a midlife crises and can be seen as a person who’s constantly on the brink of breaking down in tears but dose not. She keeps herself together until the last act of the film where she goes at her father in a emotional storm that will have you rattled. She has this sadness she brings to her eyes as you can see her constantly trying to paint this smile on her face and trying to look happy but on the inside she is totally dead emotionally. She for the first time has a breath of happiness the moment her father comes back into town to see her for the days he is their and even though she is constantly questioning what her dad is doing you can see their has been some life brought back to her and she is enjoying to an extent what she is doing with her dad. Rashida speaks the dialogue in a chilling realistic way as when she hits you with what she says it feels like she means what she is saying with her whole heart. She is in this rut and Jones brings it to life with her showing such amazing depth and layers to this person that is truly broken inside. Their was not one moment I was not engaged into her performance. As Jones shows sides to her we have never seen she brings the sadness the witty humour and bits of joy as well she really gets to delve into some very emotionally sad places but also so much more then just that. She showcases her ability to tackle a serious role with incredible dedication Rashida is truly outstanding in this film and blew me away it is honestly one of her best performances she has ever done. Jones brings a emotionally shattered performance to the screen with raw emotion that will have you amazed. 

Bill Murray : Murray gives one of his best performances in years! Murray I have said for years is incredible in serious dramatic roles when he does them. As here he brings a mix of both his comedy genius and also hard hitting drama that will have you amazed. When him and Sofia team up it is always something special and here he shows the depth of his acting once again as he plays a playboy father who yes is very witty and humorous throughout the film. We get that Bill Murray charm for sure but we also see more then just the laughs we see the hurt of this character and the regret of his life choices too. Bill balances both of those heavy tones beautifully onscreen as he can be witty and then switch to serious within the same scene. He brings the questions to Rashida’s character that is needed as he asks her why she isn’t happy why isn’t she the person he raised anymore they are very hard hitting thought provoking questions. When Murray goes to the deep emotional depths he goes all the way and does not hold back as their were some moments in the last act that truly moved me. Their is a moment in the film where he is discussing what he regrets in his life and he dose not cry but his voice cracks and you can start to see the tears well up in his eyes but he never lets the tears go down his face he fights it back and wow is it powerful stuff from Murray. He brings the pure optimistic joy his daughter is in desperate need of but also asks the questions to her that she is ignoring herself and he asks her head on to address them and find the answers. Bill really does a tremendous job here as he had me in stitches the entire way but also brought tears to my eyes as he explores every depth and complexity of his character in such an honest  and truly fun way. He brings this sense of determination and drive to the character hellbent on finding the truth about his daughters husband because he wants to make sure that her husband is being faithful to the point he gets quite heated about it shown with incredible emotion. It is one of the best performances of his career giving the perfect blend of comedy and drama and you can’t take your eyes off of him for one minute. He is charismatic, charming, emotionally raw and utterly hilarious Bill Murray is truly outstanding. 

Sofia Coppola : Sofia has crafted once again another amazing character study of the human condition. Sofia this time tackles the relationship between father and daughter and she does not sugar coat it whatsoever she shows what a real father and daughter dynamic would look like. She centres the film around a midlife crises and it is done in such a way that feels real and how I mean that is the way she writes the dialogue and story is so captivating and emotionally honest their were points it didn’t feel acted. It flows so naturally you start to forget it is a film because the chemistry you see from Rashida and Murray is so electric and pure they actually look like a real father and daughter and then on top of the very real story at hand you do get wrapped up in all of it in such a fantastic way. She shows the ugliness of what a midlife crises feels like and the constant paranoia and questioning you have in your heart at the same time her father coming to see her is the breath of fresh air she needs and Sofia shows that in such a entertaining and heartwarming way. The entire film felt like a night out with Bill Murray and his daughter and I love that and even though the film does have its decent share of humour their are some truly heart shattering moments and they don’t shy away from those Sofia takes it head on with some truly dazzling writing that will have you wrapped up in every frame. She brings this naturalism feel to her films and it is felt here once again by the sheer nature of the story and the natural feel of the chemistry among the actors as well as the dialogue spoken had such truth to it. Sofia brings truly amazing performances out of her actors in some of the best works of their career. This is a very emotionally intimate film that is emotionally hilarious and honest all at once Sofia has crafted another truly outstanding film amazing direction by Sofia once again.