Movie Man Darian Watching All Night Long

The Drama 

This film is one of the most powerful and important films A24 has ever made! Now when I heard this was in production a while ago I was so excited to see what the result would be as Robert Pattinson and Zendaya are among some of the hardest working actors together and to see their first onscreen collaboration together I felt would be something truly special and it did not disappoint. This film has some very hot topics that it discusses that is bound to spark heavy discussion told through the framework of a relationship that is being tested due to the strain that is on it from personal secrets. The drama is a film I feel will only age better as time goes on and people see how incredibly well structured and thought provoking the message and tone is executed. The film will shock and amaze you if it’s from the plot or the great central performances this is one to see on the big screen with a packed house. 

Firstly, Their is so much about this film I wanna discuss so I am just going to jump right in. Now something I feel I need to put out there is this is not like some rom com that is in the same vein of ones we have seen in the early 2000’s as some people felt mislead to believe that was the creative avenue this film was going for and that is not the case at all. When I saw the trailer for this film i felt their was some very serious dark undertones or themes that were going to be discussed not once did it give Drew Barrymore romance film vibes at all and I hope people don’t trash the film for feeling like the marketing led them astray. As it seemed very clear within the posters and the entire promotional run that this is not your traditional romance film sure it is surrounding a couple and their relationship but it is not a cookie cutter film in the slightest. Now the film discusses very heavy topics such as gun control, school shooting and deep rooted unsolved trauma and in todays political climate I can see why so many have been divided on their feelings on this film but they are very big concerns and they need to be discussed they cannot be just swept under the rug and pretend like this does not go on. As the film does not take on the topic lightly it charges it head on and shows the implications it would have on someones mental health if they had those thoughts on causing a mass shooting but never acting on it. The way it is handled is with such care and respect as well they Bring up the question would you look at someone differently or reevaluate your relationship with someone due to their mind once being in such a dark place but since it happened so long ago and their no longer that person can you still see them for the same person you thought they were before learning that information. The film raises some very big things and the way they show it through the lens of a couple that is about to get married but this information throws everything into question and The film shows how someone has evolved to be better then their dark past but once that ashamed moment of Sinister thoughts is brought to life they essentially have to revisit that dark part of their life and be totally judged for it even though they beg the people around them to not let it be a defining moment of their life. The film does not take sides of what is right and what is wrong they show arguments on both angles of the conversation and let the audience come to that conclusion on their own. I love how in such a divided time that a filmmaker was able to take this on and present it in brutal truth and is the film divisive oh for sure but the fact of the matter is the impact of this film was to spark conversation on this very real issue that surrounds America and that is what is happening because of the film that people are having those tough discussions so the film I would say was very effective with its intent on its audiences. The film has romance and shows the way they fell in love and then how they go about dealing with this when it effects their relationship greatly the way this film is structured and written is as impactful and important as Alex Garland’s Civil War and I think it stands next to that film as one of the most important films A24 has ever put out. Just like how Civil War divided audience but has since aged better as time has gone on I think this film will have the same kind of shelf live. 

Secondly, The performances from its two main leads Robert Pattinson and Zendaya are magnificent! Both of these actors are at the top of their game in terms of film choices and they are some of the hardest working actors of their generation so seeing them paired together was so exciting to see how they would work opposite of one another. Pattinson delivers this very emotionally confused and quiet performance of someone that is trying to piece everything in his brain for it to make sense all the while he is dealing with a whirlpool of emotions that he is trying to sort out on his own and I think it is one of his best performances he has brought to the screen. Zendaya I would say gives her second best performance next to her work in Challengers here as she goes through the whole spectrum of emotions and she is so fragile but also strong and she plays the character with someone that just wants to be loved for who they are now and not be judged for their past actions. Both of them give some of the greatest work of their respected careers and they are truly sensational and shout out to Alana Hamm for doing a great job at being one of cinemas best despised characters in recent memory she also is terrific but I feel won’t get as much air time as it’s two leads. Everyone in the film is terrific but the film rests solely on its leads and they do not disappoint. 

Lastly, The Drama is one of the best films of the year I am going to say it because I see myself talking about this film all year for the way I felt watching it and also just recommending to people it will for sure fall somewhere on my top 10 of the year. This film is masterfully acted, brilliantly written and brings a bi spotlight on very important issues that need to be talked about and the Drama has great twits and turns you never see coming while Also never talking down to the audience and I give massive credit to a24 for letting such a heavy political film be made because I could not see any other big studio take this on and I think again this film will age better and better with time The Drama is truly outstanding.  

This film centres around A couple that is about to get married but when they find out a secret from their past it throws everything into the air, 

Rated R : sexual content, some violent/bloody images, language throughout, and brief drug use. Sex & Nudity

Zendaya : Zendaya gives one of the best performances of her career with her work on this film! Now it would be my favourite if Challengers was not here but it is a compliment to her talents that she has such a rich body of work that its hard to pick that is a good problem to have. She plays a emotionally complex person that has buried a dark secret for a Long time and when socializing she reveals that she at one point was heavily considering shooting up a school and got very close to doing it but backed out at the last moment and when she revels this information the response from everyone is shock, denial and then builds up over to anger and her partner played by Pattinson is more in the mindset of trying to make sense of it all but I will discuss his emotional journey later. Zendaya plays this role very carefully as she has such a fragile heart and she wants people to see the fact she is better now shows that she is not that person anymore and regardless they hang her up on this and it alters how people interact with her and think of her going forward and she hates every moment of it as she does not want it to define who she is. Was it a terrible lapse in judgment yes but she knows it was wrong to think it but despite her explaining her feelings over and over it just makes it worse for herself as she drives the people closest to her away and it creates a huge strain on her relationship. Because we as the viewer are thinking the same things the people around her do we know her really and is she mentally sound now or is that a lie? It goes back and forth trying to explain both sides of that coin and it results in terrific emotional rawness for Zendaya to delve into and show aspects of her range as an actor we haven’t seen much from her. You can see how embarrassed she feels and how she could fall apart to the brink of tears within seconds if someone looks at her any longer with a judgmental stare. Zendaya is truly terrific baring her soul onscreen and digging into deep aspects of herself that are so tender to give this character the proper justice it deserves and it also just makes the performance that more authentic. Zendaya feels every line and springs it to life with such honesty that her delivery has such impact and she also can tell the audience so much without saying much either she truly blew me away in this film and what a great way to start her massive year ahead of her. I know she has more projects coming out this year but I can say with confidence that this performance will remain my favourite of hers by the end of the year out of the work she releases this year. Zendaya is magnetic and emotionally extraordinary. 

Robert Pattinson : Pattinson is far more louder in terms of his performance and I loved each second of it. Now Zendaya is more pulled back he is the more emotionally louder one out of the two and that never really happens usually Pattinson is more reserved but here he speaks his mind which was a nice change of pace. Pattinson I cannot stress enough is one of the greatest actors of his generation and people in 20-25 years from now will look back and see how incredible his body of work he has build up truly is. Here he plays a loving man that is about to get married when his entire relationship is thrown into hell. At first he is as I mentioned like the rest he is in shock at what he is hearing he actually thought it was a joke cause their is no way that it could be true which is when the denial sets in and then confusion, anger and acceptance he goes through so many spectrums of emotions and we see him hit each single one so strongly. The performance never felt over the top and cartoony but it was emotionally loud in a way that felt grounded and realistic. Pattinson wants to be there for his partner though this tough time for them and not be judgmental when they need them more then ever but he does his best to hide his real thoughts on the matter but the more he hides and ignores his emotions about it the more that it bleeds out of him in ways he didn’t want to. He becomes paranoid, has odd like visions starts seeing things that bother him in his day to day and it gets to a point where he can’t socialize with anyone without feeling totally emotionally compromised and overwhelmed.  Pattinson wears his heart on his sleeve and commands the screen with such visceral emotional realness that vibrates in each frame he is in. You see how he wants to be the loving understanding partner but the moment she told him that secret of hers without thinking about it the more he sat with it the more uneasy he felt about the fact he does not know her at all but he is doing his best to be there for her and not make it about him but he cannot help but spiral. Pattinson showcases a whirlwind of emotional vulnerability in his performance that I would say ranks among some of his best work of his career. He is magnetic onscreen and the performance is so greatly executed by him with such great exploration him and Zendaya also have such great chemistry and he can say so much like Zendaya in the quite moments but doing so little you can see the pain weighing on his shoulders as the story progresses and eventually he breaks down as he can’t carry all that weight anymore. He is truly amazing once again showcasing another strong performance that is truly terrific Pattinson shines amazingly in this film! 

Kirstoffer Borgili : Borgili captures such an incredibly important topic so tenderly onscreen! Now I have yet to see the amazing breakout film that is Dream Scenario but I know how highly respected that film of his is and he splashed onto the scene with such a distinctive flare that made him one to watch. Here he showcases the importance of gun violence told through the lens of a relationship. He talks about the delicate topic of gun violence in America and how the mental health with itself can impact a relationship and those around them. It is as I mentioned earlier a very hot topic that is quite sensitive to many which is the reason why this film has been plagued with “controversy” slapped on it. Now to be fair yes it is a sensitive and ongoing issue in America but it is something we should have deep conversations about so their can be ways to fixing the issue if we simply just ignore it and pretend it never goes on their will be zero progress made and by having this be such a big talking point of the film it forces the audience to have to confront these topics head on and if it makes them uncomfortable  that is the point. He is never disrespectful when discussing it but he is driving to show the glaring issue about it though and huge props to him as many would not dare touch this kind of topic in the polarizing political time we are in at the moment but I do see his vision of what he was trying to go for by tackling these themes. He wanted to ask the question if someone had these really dark thoughts and was so close to acting on them but didn’t and has since then become a better person should they still be looked down upon or should we demonize them still for even the thought of entertaining those ideas. It isn’t a easy question to pounder and I like that though it has started so much online discussion which was the point of all of this and it is not a traditional romance film but to be fair has A24 ever made a cookie cutter romance film? I like that he makes this really multi layered film about relationship strain and  having to deal with mental health  with having truly dark thoughts like mass shootings. I think the longer the time passes the more people will chip away at this film and see how smartly written it is and how amazingly well structured the tone is and it truly is a great think piece while capturing some of the most authentic and emotionally honest performances of the year through Pattinson and Zendaya. Kristoffer delivers such a tremendous film that has no issue asking big questions and you don’t need to have all the answers he wants to leave the questions on the table and have the viewer figure it out for themselves and I love that truly one of the smartest written and directed films of the year.