Babygirl (2024)
★★★★
This review may contain spoilers.
The score for this film is absolutely fantastic, the breath-y sounds and distant droning like qualities it has are amazing, the way that each track sounds radically different from another but also similar as well, the way it mixes real world elements into the score are well worked in, it knows when it needs to go for less electronic and more melodic like the pool scene, more so the film knows exactly when scenes need to be scored and when they don't need to be scored, most of the scenes work based solely off the performances and that is a real strength.
the acting in this film is really great, Harris in this awkward and shy but authoritative role that he takes on, real strength for his character comes from the vulnerability that he portrays in some scenes, it's clear in those scenes that while giving us a piece of characterization he is still being distant, he doesn't want Romy to form to much connection and Harris doesn't want us the audience to form to much of a connection, he needs to stay mysterious because if he doesn't then it would break his characterization power over Romy pretty quickly. Antonio was really good in this as well, overly sweet and sexy, he is the emotional core for the film, we the audience are waiting to see if he will find out or not and when Romy tells him it's heartbreaking, the way he feels sympathy so quickly for Samuel was so sad, and man was that scene where he had a panic attack so perfectly framed and well done. I also really liked Esther the subtle c-story that they are on in the background of the film is so great, in short it's Romy's story but it happens quicker, when Romy sits down after coming back from the club and gives her some advice it was so sweet, it's clear that Isabel knew what was happening and was trying to give some advice in retrospect, as she had been through this with Mary, Nicole killed it in this role, so many nuances in her performance here, the way she goes from one emotion to the next at her home and at her company are so great, for me at least it was clear that she was having a bit of a weird relationship with power, that she had so much power at this point of her life and was struggling to define what that meant to her which is why we see a lot of these sexier scenes as opposed to just actual sex, sure sex is there but more than that is shown, everything is about power, except for sex, and all that.
near the end of the film Romy tells Jacob that she thought these thoughts came from her mom or her childhood and she worked on getting rid of these thoughts but Jacob retorts with it not being about that, that this was her and that she needs to think about that, while hinted at a bit, it isn't revealed to us till now I do think this recontextualization of the film towards the end will make a rewatch interesting, it presents some interesting ideas to play around with during the film and find deeper or hidden meaning elsewhere.
there is some great lighting in places that really stands out.
the framing of each shot is unique and interesting to look at, like them smoking over the stove, the long shot of the pool, the long drone shot, the shots in the club, the intimate scenes in the hotel room, shots outside on the street, they all come together to make this thing look visually really great.
I also really loved the costume design in this movie, all the characters costumes fit so well but some of the elegant dresses that Romy wears are so cool.
anyways, those are some thoughts, they devastated the real babygirl in all of us, thanks for reading.
notes below
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- I liked the camera angle as it hung over head, that was cool.
- like this opening score, very pensive, questioning but dramatic.
- like that shot through the window.
- the cut to her working from sex, Look up, Smile and Never show your weakness, her outlook on life.
- I really loved that score, of the breathing and droning sounds, "Whatever you tell me to do" that was super good.
- I love how limited the score is, it sits aimlessly
- that long drone shot was pretty great.
- this score, omg , this is impressive, this violin is going hard. plus the opera singer.
- I love Harris in this role, he is really good, playing it awkwardly trying to find his way through this is working really well, his character knows the things that are happening are goofy.
- that purple dress is stunning.
- "sending me milk" "you drank it though"
- wow that hotel room scene was amazing, the way it started chaotic, the camera jumping around and slowly as the scene got more intimate , the camera got closer and closer, the way the cuts lessoned, and we stayed with the characters more, the way that it was silent as we let what happens happen
- it's intimate moments like her smoking or him asking her to hold him that carry the film forward in such an interesting dynamic and make it, sure about sex but more about power.
- I also like that the diegetic music that plays is actually loud and overpowers the talking, and has some weight in sound design when we move away from that scene, the way it plays and pounds in the background is really well done, hats off sound team.
- that green and red lighting was so cool especially synchronized to the music.
- don't tell Antonio he is babygirl! NO!
- the build up of tension was super well done here, his pleading of what did he do to you, and then he realizes, his anger as a result. just such a powerful performance here.
- his heartbreaking "I felt sorry for you motherfucker" oh my god.
