Having watched the movie in the actual cinema, I wanted to read the entire credits. Not many people had the same patience and were leaving one by one. Oh boy, the credits were long. Even my partner run out of patience and left, leaving me and just one other guy in the cinema. I was so speechless, I couldn't risk missing any after-credits bit (spoiler: there weren't). And I did a little "Joker" dance too, from the scene with the stairs.
Anyway, why did the film affect me so much? That is even more puzzling given that it is widely considered as a "flop" or "box office bomb". For me, the film uniquely captures the power of ambition and how extreme creativity goes hand in hand with extreme destruction. The raw ambition of the young starlet, Nellie LaRoy, is perfectly depicted by Margot Robbie. The lengths she goes to reach her dreams BUT still staying true to herself and not compromising a single bit. Her horrible living conditions, mother in the mental institution, father to be ashamed of - these all fall perfectly into the puzzle. There was a little throwback to "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood" where she watches her own movie, and... yes she becomes a star. A parallel story, is the one of the famous and highly successful male actor, depicted by Brad Pitt, who is no longer in vogue and the sunset of his career literally kills him. One day, wealthy, handsome, still surrounded by beautiful women, he gives a big tip, goes upstairs and shoots himself. Their lives end prematurely but in a different way. Interestingly, the chaotic and out-of-control character of Margot Robbie has shown more maturity and was briefly at peace with her career ending as well. Her death came from the gangsters, chasing an unpaid gambling debt.
The character of Diego Calva deserves praise too. He is that calm and cool-headed man that every chaotic woman needs. He was Nellie's only friend and his tenacity and secret love for her have kept things under control, at least for some time.
There are so many scenes in this film that have the potential to become iconic, if you truly understand them. The ending with all the history of cinema (throwbacks all the way to Tron, Terminator, Avatar), the meltdown of Nellie vs. The rich, or the scene with the snake.
I am truly at a loss why this wasn't a mega-hit in the box office. Is it the 3h timeline? Or saturation with the same old Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt? Scenes too disturbing? Hard to say, but for me this film would be up there with the best of the best.
Anyway, why did the film affect me so much? That is even more puzzling given that it is widely considered as a "flop" or "box office bomb". For me, the film uniquely captures the power of ambition and how extreme creativity goes hand in hand with extreme destruction. The raw ambition of the young starlet, Nellie LaRoy, is perfectly depicted by Margot Robbie. The lengths she goes to reach her dreams BUT still staying true to herself and not compromising a single bit. Her horrible living conditions, mother in the mental institution, father to be ashamed of - these all fall perfectly into the puzzle. There was a little throwback to "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood" where she watches her own movie, and... yes she becomes a star. A parallel story, is the one of the famous and highly successful male actor, depicted by Brad Pitt, who is no longer in vogue and the sunset of his career literally kills him. One day, wealthy, handsome, still surrounded by beautiful women, he gives a big tip, goes upstairs and shoots himself. Their lives end prematurely but in a different way. Interestingly, the chaotic and out-of-control character of Margot Robbie has shown more maturity and was briefly at peace with her career ending as well. Her death came from the gangsters, chasing an unpaid gambling debt.
The character of Diego Calva deserves praise too. He is that calm and cool-headed man that every chaotic woman needs. He was Nellie's only friend and his tenacity and secret love for her have kept things under control, at least for some time.
There are so many scenes in this film that have the potential to become iconic, if you truly understand them. The ending with all the history of cinema (throwbacks all the way to Tron, Terminator, Avatar), the meltdown of Nellie vs. The rich, or the scene with the snake.
I am truly at a loss why this wasn't a mega-hit in the box office. Is it the 3h timeline? Or saturation with the same old Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt? Scenes too disturbing? Hard to say, but for me this film would be up there with the best of the best.
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