Movie Man Darian Watching All Night Long

Love Lies Bleeding 

This film is all about drive the lengths you are willing to go to see your dreams realized and love in its many forms. Now I knew that A24 is the studio behind this film and I saw the poster and heard of the cast that is all I really knew about the film going into the screening. I had not seen a trailer a tv spot not one drop of footage which I feel made for a way more enjoyable viewing experience. As I also know A24 knocks it out of the park with 99% of their films and so I knew I probably would enjoy it on top of the fact hearing it is a drama romance with Kristen Stewart who has proven she has quite the range emotionally as she has been proving that her last dramatic role that really captured my attention was her portrayal of Princess Diana in Stewart. So I knew the actors and the creative team involved that this would be at the most a decent film. Now the film definitely lived up to my expectations as it is about the obsession to better yourself but also be driven by love and how far you would go to show that support to a loved one. The film takes so many unpredicted turns tonally and pulls it off as its able to be a drama, take on themes of bodybuilding and steroid use as well as being a romance and it lands all of that tremendously well. The performances by the cast are all top notch but it is the two leads that truly blew me away Love Lies Bleeding is a constant evolving tale about love murder and obsession. 

Firstly, The film takes on such heavy themes in such a stylistic but raw way. The film shows these two characters and their complex personalities in such an engaging way that you can’t look away from. Now what makes this film truly stand out is its representation on steroid use among athletes and how it intertwines it into the romantic element of the story at hand. As the film takes place in the 1980’s and shows the day to day life of this girl who runs this gym but when a muscle bound bodybuilder walks in her life is forever altered. Now the film does not go out of its way to make the leads gay stereotype characters they feel grounded and not like the film is trying to single out their sexuality its a romance story just like any other film and I love the respect it had towards the intimacy between the two characters without it feeling like the main focus point of what the film is trying to convey to its audience. Kristen Stewart’s character is very layered as her father has a reputation for being a shady personality around town and she knows all about it but does not acknowledge him as she has no want or need to associate herself with him. She wants to be her own person and get her success without any help and so it makes her come across very emotionally distant towards others. Then with Kathy O’ Brian who is a firecracker of a character and really opens Kristen Stewart’s eyes to the love and affection she has been lacking her whole life but also tests her limits in many ways as she is driven to be the best bodybuilder and will put that first but at the same time she thinks with her heart more then her brain. It’s two great characters that are able to both give each other things they have been missing in their hearts which is love and support no matter what ever happens. The film also shows how steroid use can be easily abused and if taken too much can really mess up your mind and emotionally affect your judgement and affect the relationships around you. It is shown in a very real and authentic way that is not glamorous but brutally real and I loved how they were able to tackle that aspect of the story in a way that honestly shows the affects of taking steroids for strengthening one’s body. It is used for her ability to perform better yes but she also uses is for personal reasons in order to just be stronger in situations where she may need it. It shows the commitment these girls have to one another in a romantic way but also showing how both their wolds comes with a bit of emotional baggage that they Never anticipated when they first met one another. It is a romance wrapped in a crime drama while also be a magnify glass towards athletes and steroid use and it is able to flesh all of that out in a smart and captivating way that keeps you on the edge of your seat never knowing where this story will go next. Its greatly written exploring the minds of these two girl’s hearts and minds while also giving this style to it that is so striking and narratively and stylistically its truly solid giving one of the strongest screenplays I have seen all year. 

Secondly, The performances by both actors are so good! Now Kristen Stewart shines in another truly tremendous performance as this emotionally reserved and hesitant person that takes a long time to trust others. She plays it so well as we see how closed off she is in the begging of the film and when she meets Jackie we see she is sexually so drawn to her but dose not know if she can trust her right away. We see the evolution of her heart through the film as we see her in love, angry at trusting her so quickly and also just trying to come to terms with a lot of untreated pain she experienced in her youth from her father. Stewart is able to channel that emotional hesitancy in such a powerful way that just lights the screen on fire. Then you have Kathy O’ Brian who plays this very determined woman that will do whatever it takes to see her dreams realized at the same time she is very emotionally motivated. We see how anything can easily set her off and she has a short fuse temper but when she loves someone she loves them hard and deeply and the nature of that character is brought to the screen brilliantly by Kathy in one of the years most emotionally charged performances. A performance I would also highlight is Ed Harris who plays this slime ball of a father towards Kristen Stewart he is soft spoken but has such intimidation in his eyes and you don’t know what he will do to get his point across it is utterly terrifying and I think he is just truly magnetic in the film. Overall the whole cast did a great job at brining these characters to life but it is the two leads that steal the show. 

Lastly, Love Lies Bleeding is one of the best acted, narratively well done films I have seen all year that delves deep into the mindset of these two girls. It explores why they are who they are the scars they have suffered and also what drives them while capturing this touching love story at the centre of it that is so emotionally moving. Kristen Stewart and Kathy O’ Brian both deliver astonishing performances in this romance crime drama that also explores the dangers of steroid use and using it for emotional means that can get one easily hooked. It is a brilliant film that I can’t wait to revisit it is a truly fantastic film that will grab you and not let go until the end Love Lies Bleeding is incredible! I recommend everyone go see this film you’ll want to rewatch it the moment it’s over. 

This film centres around a girl living in a small town who works at a gym and when this good looking bodybuilder enters the gym she never prepared for the life this woman would embark her on the moment they meet. 

Rated R : Grisly Images|Drug Use|Violence|Language Throughout|Nudity|Sexual Content

Kristen Stewart : Stewart delivers a truly amazing performance in this film! Now Stewart is really starting to craft an amazing resume of work for herself through smaller independent films which I think is a perfect fit for her. Now seeing her in one of the lead roles of Love Lies Bleeding was amazing as she gets so much to work with in terms of this character and so much she can explore emotionally to present to the audience. She plays this very reserved but emotionally committed person that had gone through her fair share of traumatic experiences. Now her family especially her father deals in very shady business deals she is aware of it but wants to stay as far away from it as possible. She is someone who you can tell wants to feel love for the first time and express that to someone but she is very selective in who she becomes vulnerable with. When she meets Jackie she falls for her good looks yes but also the way she carries herself and has a no nonsense attitude towards people that try to step on her or make her feel less. Stewart embodies that undying loyalty to Jackie while also showing that when you’re in love you will do whatever to show the person you’re with that you have their back no matter what. She is able to be so riddled with anxiety but also have a tough quality to her that she won’t let anyone push her around. What I love so much about her performance is that she is traumatized by her father and what he did to her childhood but also won’t let men be push her around as a response to what her dad to her to make her feel small. She has such a grit to her but also a tenderness to her heart that is fantastically shown onscreen through the emotional vulnerability that Stewart explores of this character. You can see she just wants to have a life that is not like her father and just to love and be loved in return and you can see that she will abandon any sense of logic and moral judgement to help the person she is in love with as she thinks quite a lot with her heart and not her head which isn’t a knock at her it just shows how emotionally driven she is. Stewart shows this very emotionally sensitive girl wrapped in this tough image she has made for herself but is quickly faded away when this girl just walks into her life and the sheer amount of emotional depth we see from her onscreen is outstanding. Stewart brings characteristics to the character like a stutter when she is nervous to show that she dose not want to let the people around her down and this sense of sadness in her eyes when she feels someone she cares about is in danger. Kristen is truly amazing in another solid performance that is among one of her strongest that explores this very quietly spoken but emotionally loud personality and Stewart has her heart on full display in a staggering showcase of a performance that is both emotionally gripping while being so pulled back with how she shows that tender side of her heart onscreen. 

Katy O’ Brian : Katy is a powerhouse in this film! She is a firecracker of a character and in many ways steals the film in term of performance in my opinion. Now I had not seen her in anything before this film and after seeing her incredibly strong work in this I will definitely be keeping a eye out for her as she impressed me with her great work in this film. She plays this bodybuilding woman that will do whatever it takes to see her dream realized of being the best at keeping her Body in top form in order to see her dreams come true. The sheer motivation she has in her head and willpower you can see through her eyes and in the tone of her voice when she speaks when she talks you can hear she means every word she is saying and won’t stop at anything in order to be the greatest and that sheer commitment she has made to herself drives her into an obsession that is both inspiring but quickly turns very unhealthy to not just her but also to the people around her also. She also has a side to her that is emotionally charged but it results a lot in psychical action that then turns into problems for her as she was thinking with her heart yes but didn’t think the situation fully before lashing out. It shows the audience two things she is yes willing to stand up for the ones close to her but she also has a tough time expressing her feelings in a way that does not use her strength on top of the fact she has a very short fuse that sets her off very quickly which makes her actions also very unpredictable. Katy O Brian shows the sheer emotional hell the character goes through in order to be the biggest body builder while also trying to maintain a relationship which becomes quite strained due to her will to be the best she at first falls head first for Stewart’s character and she shows her that affection she has been needing for so long and she opens up to her but she also tells her that she won’t let anything stand in her way when it comes to her goal even if its a relationship that is good for her she will put it in her review mirror if it means it’ll hurt her career. Which also shows her priorities not saying she is a soulless person but she is so distracted by the mindset of being the greatest she lets it fog her judgement of what matters is right in front of her which she does come to realize only when she notices how much she screwed up and things start to spiral for her and the arc she goes on is amazing. As she is so charming and intriguing but also has a burning passion in her body that is unpredictable and she uses that to at times make the audience become in some small way scared of her actions because of her ability to do anything to show her commitment to not just herself but also her partner even if its not what they asked. She always comes from a good place but at times it dose not translate that way in the way she handles things. Katy is able to show the sheer force she is With her body, the flirty romantic tenderness of herself with Kristen and then during the third act show the desperation she has to make things right as she knows she messed up. She is able to tap into all of that in such a genuine and emotionally powerful way that makes it that you cannot take your eyes off of her as her performance is truly one of the strongest of the year and she has made her someone to look out in future projects as she is truly Phenomenal in this film. 

Rose Glass : Glass directs an amazing second film with her work on Love Lies Bleeding! Rose captures the sheer scope of romance and stereotype usage in a very honest way that I was thoroughly impressed in her depiction of it. Now this film takes place in this small town full of very shady characters and a girl who works at a gym wanting to just lead a normal life even though her father has crafted a legacy in crime she never asked to be part of. Now that within itself is such a gripping story and when she puts the tone of performance enhancing drugs into the narrative not only made it interesting but it fit the tone for what this film is. It never felt out of place it also never glamorizes it by any means She is able to show the easy slippery slope of how it can cloud your ability to control the use of it after having a taste of it. The film is very much a romance film all the way through but it also is about family trauma, toxic male dominance, Drug use and what one would do to show them that their with them through thick and thin. All of those tones are fleshed out in amazing detail that at times can be very ugly but it’s shown in a way the audience can fully understand why the characters act the way they do. Rose Glass also makes the setting of the film feel very enticing by the interesting characters that paint the town along with the music that fits the setting of the film perfectly. The film does not feel like a straight up crime shoot it up film but at the same time their are crime elements it is able to take bits and pieces of multiple tones without it being a singular thing. I love that as then it can go multiple ways without it falling into the trappings of things we may of seen before. It is a fresh tale about romance that puts these characters into some very hard situations that they have to then rely on each other to get out of and we see their relationship tested multiple times. The film also shows as I have mentioned the sheer ugly look at how steroid use can really be by even showing aspects of it changing the way yes you look but the behaviour one would have and the sheer shift in their emotions and how they would act. It is a great portrait of love, obsession and burning passion and Rose Glass did a phenomenal job with this film while also getting great performances from her entire cast while taking the audience on a wild ride they will never forget her direction and writing on this is amazing truly solid work!