ANNETTE (2021) and my Mixed Emotions

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[@BR-ec2ph]

I think what shapes the entire film, as you pointed out, is a discussion of and meditation on the reflection of how we perform and how we are seen, and what implications those have on us. Henry’s character arc going from "don't leave me," to "stop looking at me," is one of those elements, but Ann and Annette and the Accompanist are all intrinsically performing and being shaped by our expectation from the start as well. As the opening song lays out, "We'll sing and die for you, yes in minor key / and if you want us to kill, too, we may agree." We're watching the characters negotiate the roles they've been assigned -- often multiple roles at once in the case of Henry (the flipping between murder and victim particularly) -- and how the only way to escape is to stop being observed. It's a deep and dense and painful and often hilarious and exhilarating movie that I think becomes richer and richer with every watch. I think it comes together as a cohesive whole much stronger the second time around. Every time I see it, I feel it harder and harder. It's a movie that makes me happy I was alive to see it, frankly.

[@DeepDishComboMambo]

I wish I had your insight and the ability to express thoughts. You hit the nail on the button.

[@BR-ec2ph]

It's also interesting that speaking to people about Annette -- which is one of my new favorite films of a time, a quite literally life-affirming film -- they either love or hate Holy Motors, and never bring up a single other Carax film. I haven't seen Holy Motors, but I'm willing to bet my experience of it will be enriched and informed by Annette, which is also a divisive experience for so many. We bring our own experience and baggage and history to films, and seeing Annette not knowing Carax gave me an experience of a lifetime, and an introduction to a wonderful new world.

[@AmbroseCadwell]

Yeah, Carax has done well with his comeback but it's a damn shame his earlier career is completely neglected by newcomers. Make sure if you check out his fourth feature that you check out the longer miniseries cut titled "Pierre, ou Les ambiguites" and not the shorter theatrical cut "Pola X", it changes the whole context and pacing of the feature and messes it up.

[@splitsseconds9965]

I considered this more of a sparks movie than a leo carax movie

[@DenNEE]

I could not wait for it to be over.

[@nichijin]

Saw the film at its Cannes premiere, and I share your emotions 100%. Also agree that Holy Motors is a freaking masterpiece.

[@elvatonegro4880]

I really appreciate that in 2021 there are still film makers that try to push te boundaries of cinema and demand certain things of the viewer, i also think that the film as a whole is full of moments that i was about to burst in laugh of how absurd they are, i dont know if that is intentional, but for me the best of the movie is without a doubt Adam Driver, im sure he will be one the best actors of our generation. Its a weird experience, i still dont know how i feel and i also dont know if thats a good thing

[@Mr2pint]

Oh my god, you improve the sound quality of your videos, well done 👍

[@45jobinjose]

Very mixed feelings on this movie. But the last moments were cathartic and emotional.

[@castinyork647]

yes omg the ending song almost brought me to tears even though i wasn't on board with some of the ideas in the rest of the movie

[@lacrimatorium]

Thanks for thoughtful review Maggie. I was wondering how this might be. I am curious about anything with puppets. You've given me something to chew on. (The volume here was a bit loud and distorted.)

[@soupmantis6454]

Great review!! Have you seen Lovers On The Bridge by Leos Carax?

[@gracemacfarlane1841]

It’s quite hard to review this movie successfully and not consider the fact that it’s a Sparks project just as much as a Carax film. In fact, the music started 8 years ago as a concept album, not intended as a film which it became by happy accident. Carax worked round the ‘confines’ of set pieces which were originally designed to tell the story in themselves without visual addition. I’m afraid to describe only the opening number as ‘rock opera’ does little to recognise the incredible artistry of Sparks. The ‘songs’ not musical numbers as such as in a traditional musical - they’re designed to perform multiple functions such as tell story, express mood, set tone, reveal character and be a highly effective way to communicate. To give you one example of it’s subtlety, ‘We love each other so much’ expresses the heightened emotions of a couple wrapped up in each other. but it reappears later in the film when the conductor character is singing it through tears with Annette on his lap, full of regret for lost love. And when Henry hears Annette sing it, it infuriates him and s leads to conflict and murder. Most devastatingly, the number returns in the final scene as Annette delivers the crushing blow to her father, telling him he can’t love her. The film repays several viewings. It cohered and deepened for me. I think it’s one of the most intriguing pieces of cinema I’ve seen. I think about it lots every day. But I agree, not for everyone.

[@stellwegleestvoor3562]

I completely agree with this review, except that the third act, when everything comes together, I found so absolutely devastatingly beautiful and unique and heartfelt and sad and brilliant, etc. etc., that it made forgive this movie for all the discomfort and, at times, dislike it made me feel till then. So all in all, I consider it to be a masterpiece. A flawed masterpiece, certainly, but these kinds of masterpieces may be the best. This film has a soul as I have rarely experienced before.

[@aymanelkhodary1232]

13:33 This is so true! This is my first movie of this director and although I had bretty much the same problems as you, especially in the middle part of the movie, but I have to say I'm beyond intrigued! I will be checking out his movies cause man that final scene really blew my mind!

[@gabrielrodriguezbrenes6899]

Just watched Annette since it was released in theaters in Costa Rica a couple of weeks ago. It's really funny how I agree exactly with your sentiment about this film. You described pretty accurately the experience I had watching it.

[@lichtfilme]

Best movie ever I’m serious

[@JJJJJVVVVVLLLLL]

Had to walk out of the cinema on this one. I’ll come back to it again. Loved Boy Meets Girl, Mauvais Sangre, Lovers OTB, Holy Motors.

[@FelicityPoubelle]

Loved your review and I echo some of your thoughts. I love Adam as an actor but only certain directors can get the best from him or know how to use him. I noticed that you did not mention Marion Cotilliard at all. I was really disappointed and felt she was wasted in the film which was clearly a vehicle for Adam. The puppet as a storytelling tool for me was a fail as it felt forced and a stunt IMO. I felt that when we got the humanity of Annette's character that that was where the movie should have started. I'm late because I just found your videos and have fallen into a bit of a rabbit hole watching your old ones. Keep bringing us you wonderful POV!!

[@ed1rko17]

I was so excited for this movie and I kinda hated it. It was like the film was arguing with me and telling me to turn it off every minute for 2 and a half hours. I just couldn't wait for it to be over.

[@davidellis5141]

First Comment on Annette ! Awesome 👌 film 👍

[@crocerla]

Okay, audio quality!

[@curtisebear1568]

I praise this as a masterpiece and I think time will make it better. But I can totally see why people are disappointed.

[@Sotnasbentsion]

Some scenes, the photography and Adam Driver are the high points for me. But I felt the movie is totally disconnected. Didn't work out for me.

[@looney1023]

Excellent thumbnail choice!

[@JohnDoe-tm9wz]

Adam Driver was amazing in the film

[@theurbanloner8879]

My friends it just keeps happening. The piece!

[@miguelyarturo]

Hey have you watched any film from Pedro Costa?

[@davideoliveirapinheiro1096]

I would love to hear her opinions on Pedro Costa. This remembers me that I still have to watch Vitalina Varela.

[@henrye6245]

@@davideoliveirapinheiro1096 I really liked that one a lot

[@shawnhannaford9147]

I noticed one half baked idea that seemed to plague me throughout the film. A Snow White reference was heavily used in the first act with zero use in the second or third. I will say this, my thoughts are the film is extremely anti exploitation. In the final scene, Annette speaks to the hate of both her parents. She was created purely as a device for control by two opposing hyper extreme archetypes of masculine and feminine characters. Observe the hair of these characters throughout every act. I feel this film is a great representation of our social climate; Which in itself is being exploited. I loved this film!

[@BR-ec2ph]

Also, the film is as much a Sparks production as a Carax one -- their humor, obsessions and aesthetics fill the film from second one. It's a collaborative piece between the three, which may be where some Carax fans find a disconnect (not saying that's true for you, but just something which occurred to me).

[@sandorx4]

Yeah, the story is entirely written by Ron and Russel. It was finished when they brought it to Carax.

[@AmbroseCadwell]

@@sandorx4 I believe Carax wrote the courtroom and prison scenes, the rest was Sparks.

[@sandorx4]

@@AmbroseCadwell He wrote the kneeling part of So May We Start, for sure. And he wrote the Stand-up sequences. Not sure about the prison scenes.

[@sandorx4]

Annette is a masterpiece. I've seen it three times in the cinema so far. It's polarizing for some reason. In Cannes some people really hated it. I don't like Adam Driver at all, but here he was perfect. I'm sure that the film is far too complex to be successful in the US. It seems you didn't try to understand it. Not even a mention of Caroline Champetier's splendid cinematography.

[@92ninersboy]

If you watched the entirety of her video she made great efforts to "understand" the film (practically turning intellectual somersaults) as she loves the director and his past work and was bending over backwards to like "Annette". In the end she didn't. I love adventurous, ambitious films but for me this movie wasn't provocative in any way that I found involving. I can't even say I hated it, as to hate it I would need to have some kind of emotional reaction other than boredom. I am glad, though, that you love it and I'm sure there will be a number of people who share your reaction.

[@sandorx4]

@@92ninersboy No, she is talking about the film she wish it was, instead of understanding what the film is actually doing.

[@92ninersboy]

@@sandorx4 Maybe her understanding of the film is different than yours and she wasn't voicing what you wanted to hear. I don't think its fair to say she didn't try to understand it, she bent over backwards to interpret it. If you wish to share what you feel the film is doing you're welcome to do so - I will read what you say.

[@mjaada]

Compartment Number 6

[@brokebackwetback5004]

At least Sparks are finally involved in a decent movie.

[@ericvonroenn9872]

After the Edgar Wright documentary shed light on the failed film projects they were attached to in the past, Annette feels like a triumph for them despite the mixed reviews. The use of a Sparks song in Holy Motors kind of foreshadowed that Carax would be the director to finally make it happen with them.

[@lukess.s]

I honestly think that for the story's simplicity to have any kind of emotional effect on you you'd have to really LOVE the music, which I didn't on any kind of level, so this did nothing for me beyond Simon Helberg's character

[@johnnyjohnny2650]

Sorry, but I found this movie godawful lol. It felt like a musical created by a toddler. 'We love each other sooo much..' I felt my face grow red with second hand embarrassment. I saw 'Holy Motors' and while it was 'interesting' it wasn't particularity spellbinding in any way. I guess I don't like this director too much.

[@92ninersboy]

Annette was for me a failure. I, like you, was very much looking forward to it. I can't stand it when people dismiss something that's adventurous and non-formula as being artsy, pretentious and self indulgent, but, I'm sad to say, I think for once those words apply in the case of this film. It was all so self-conscious and forced in the ways that, for example, David Lynch never was. Perhaps this is why, rather than finding the movie challenging and provocative I found it dull - I really had to force myself to get through it. Rather than attempt to intellectualize the motivations of Carax (one can find a rationalization for anything that doesn't work) I simply go with how it engages me as a film, and I found it a real slog, no matter how sensationalistic it attempted to be - I just felt detached from its action. And I would say that the overriding sensibility was not so much satiric as ironic - I've had my fill of irony for a good 20 years now. The band Sparks, their music and presentation, has always been heavy on irony, which I think played better in the '70's when it hadn't already been run into the ground. It wasn't so much that I thought Adam Driver wasn't worthy of the material as I thought the material wasn't worthy of him. Marion Cotillard was completely wasted, pretty much a non entity in the film. Someone's past accomplishments effect how we view their current work but in the end the movie has to hold up on its own - I don't think this does.

[@yaroslavvdovenko3482]

Very strong directing with a sort of shitty screenplay😄

[@davideoliveirapinheiro1096]

I loved the directing. I don't think the screenplay is bad. It doesn't seem to mash with Carax style though. The whole time I was watching I thought the screenplay would shine with someone like 1990s Todd Haynes directing.

[@abdallahnabwy3031]

I didn't like the sparks work in it

[@aminkh6872]

you're beautiful but I think getting a nose job can make you prettier. you can come to Iran and do an affordable nose job and also see the ancient house and artifacts as well

[@thatfilmguy232]

Yeah I was totally mixed on this one! I like Leos Carax, loved holy motors I wanted to like this more I feel like a lot of the ideas were half baked. It didn’t bring out anything new for me. Reminded me of the king of comedy in a way in how we celebrity worship