FILM REVIEW: MOTHER (18)

Where to start?!

I usually try to avoid film reviews before writing my own as I fear I’ll be swayed in a certain direction. However, with Mother! being such a hot topic online lately, it’s been difficult to avoid people’s thoughts. One critic I admire described the movie as ‘A Masterpiece’ whilst another branded it ‘The worst film of the century’.

I’m sitting here debating myself whether Darren Aronofsky’s (the director of Requiem for a Dream and Black Swan) latest film is genius or utterly ridiculous. I apologise for sitting on the fence and concluding that it’s somewhere in the middle.

Mother! is about… erm… bear with me…

With Jennifer Lawrence playing a character called ‘Mother’ and Javier Bardem’s part going by ‘Him’, already it’s clear this is not your typical movie.

Him is a poet plagued with writer’s block and Mother is a housewife who’s renovating their home from top-to-bottom after a serious fire had damaged it in the past. Oh, and the house also has a heart. Yes, you heard me right.

To add to the confusion, a mysterious shaped crystal is displayed in the office of Him. It was retrieved from the ashes of the fire and means a lot to the poet for reasons that eventually become clear.

When the couple are disturbed by visitors, their relationship is put to the test. And why do their visitors have such an interest in the crystal? You’ll have to watch it to find out. Well, kind of.

To be honest, there are so many metaphors and ways to interoperate the movie. Hardcore film fans will no doubt discuss their theories for years to come, with so many different views already online. I, of course, have my own theory but to share it, I’d be giving spoilers.

Clearly, Mother! is not the classic home invasion film that the trailer portrays, which may leave viewers feeling mislead. Others will love the fact that this is different, daring and dark. Whether you love it or hate it, you’ll surely agree that it’s unlike anything else released in recent years.

Mikey Clarke [youtube id=”XpICoc65uh0″ width=”600″ height=”350″]

Genre: Mystery & Suspense

Running Time: 115 minutes

Written & Directed by: Darren Aronofsky

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris & Michelle Pfeiffer

See if you liked: Black Swan & Mulholland Drive

See Mother! and much more at Showcase Cinema, Peterborough. Visit www.showcasecinemas.co.uk for the latest up-to-date show times. You can also join the chat on Twitter @showcasecinemas or on Facebook by searching for ‘Showcase Cinemas UK’