Flick Flak: Martha Marcy May Marlene
Martha Marcy May Marlene
Director: Sean Durkin
With: Elizabeth Olsen, John Hawkes
15, 102mins
Finally, after watching The Descendants and The Artist, two films that came seriously hyped but ultimately left me underwhelmed, MMMM hits cinemas. Another film riding high on a wave of plaudits, it left me shaken, distressed and affected; a film that does actually stay with you after watching.
The plot follows Martha (Olsen) as she flees her home of the past two years to seek refuge with her sister. It's only as she tries to adjust to normal life again that we start delving into her memories, revealing that she had been living on a farm owned by a cult of sorts, run by the horrifying Patrick (Hawkes). As Martha's newly married sister and her husband try to prise from her just where she has been for two years, memories begin to bleed into the present and it becomes increasingly clear that she has been deeply disturbed by her time on the farm.
The plot is brilliantly told, blending past and present to clever effect. If the audience is ever confused, it is only to reflect how Martha feels. The sense of dread that pervades the film is only broken by occasional outbursts, moments which in other films would mean nothing but in this one leave your heart pounding.
MMMM left me feeling drained and a little distressed. While we see what has happened to Martha, her family have no way of knowing just how disturbed she is, and have no idea how to treat her. Her increasingly frightening behaviour make sense to the audience, and it's upsetting to see how Martha is baffled as to what 'normal' life is; she's almost child-like, as if she is beginning everything all over again.
The reason for her shattered mental state is the horrific character of Patrick. I am a fan of John Hawkes from TV show Deadwood, in which he plays a thoroughly likeable guy, but in MMMM he is incredible as the frankly evil cult leader. Patrick has boys lure young women to his farm, where he says all the right things to make them love him and want to stay, cleverly using concern to control and manipulate impressionable girls. I won't give anything away, but he's a frightening piece of work.
The source of a lot of the film's hype, and rightly so, is Elizabeth Olsen. Younger sister of once-famous twins, Elizabeth is the Olsen that people will remember for years to come if she gives more performances like this. In the past she is relaxed and happy, before becoming anxious and vulnerable, and in the present she is shattered; paranoid and confused. Her performance is the reason the film works, as you utterly care about her, and feel her distress, confusion and panic.
I can understand how this film will be divisive. It is fragmented, slow to reveal things, and shot almost frustratingly at times, with a lot of scenes shot just in close-up of Martha's face. I imagine the ending will also divide audiences, but I felt it was perfect. I haven't been left affected as strongly by a film in ages, and I take that as a sign of a fantastic film.
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2 Comments – Postiwch sylw
Tyezer
Rhoddwyd sylw 3 mis yn ôl - 7th February 2012 - 09:54am
Sounds amazing. I've been waiting for a good film for a while. I recently got around to watching the highly rated Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy- but it did nothing for me.
I love your line 'it left me shaken, distressed and affected'. I am going to the cinema after that line!
tommy b
Rhoddwyd sylw 3 mis yn ôl - 7th February 2012 - 11:37am
good review- I fancy a watch of this too