mother!

Ever had that feeling where someone has out stayed their welcome? Or ever felt like you were on the receiving end of this? Fortunately, I've not felt this (too) often but the new film from bona-fide cinematic madman Darren Aronofsky dives head first into this uncomfortable feeling with his latest work, mother!, a bizarre yet oddly compelling thriller-horror-pseudo-Biblical odyssey. And clearly its been leaving its mark on critics and audience, who maybe feel that film itself has outstayed its welcome. In tandem with some critical acclaim, the film has achieved an incredibly rare score of an F on CinemaScope (aggregated from audiences). There was also the declaration from Rex Reed of The Observer that it was "the worst film of the century". At this point, I knew I had to see this film. I've been a fan of most of Aronofsky's previous works (I even really enjoyed Noah) so I was game for whatever this infamous director could throw at me.

mother! follows the titular character (Jennifer Lawrence) (no one in the film is given a direct name) who is helping her husband (Javier Bardem) restore his burned down house. Bardem is suffering from serious writer's block, with Lawrence trying to be as supportive as possible as they live their quiet life in the middle of the country. This calm is completely broken by two uninvited guests (Ed Harris and Michelle Pfieffer) who quickly get too comfy in their home. They simply won't leave and, despite Lawrence's protests, Bardem won't kick them out. Things get even odder when the guests' extended family settle in and bring a whole cavalcade of other people. Bardem, inspired by all the human drama unfurling in front of him, writes a work so powerful that a cult-like following begin to flock around him, as more and more people pour in, further infuriating Lawrence. Throw in some chilling moments, Biblical under (and over) tones and lots of shouting, mother! becomes an incredibly uncomfortable descent into madness.

mother! is a challenging watch but rewards engagement with its rich mise-en-scene, great acting and insane plot

So I'll get this out of the way - this is not the worst film of the century. Trust me in a world where Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 exists, it hardly seems fair to lump mother! in with this crowd. In fact, I would put it as one of the better film I have seen this year. The film excellently builds up this awkward atmosphere, with Lawrence essentially stuck in a Kafka-esque nightmare. And she is great in this. Up until mother!, I had yet to see a performance from Lawrence that fully engaged me. I'm not a fan of the rambly films of David O. Russell (I hated American Hustle in particular), which I don't think served her well, nor did I enjoy her increasingly disinterested performances in the X-Men films. But seeing her fully unleashed in mother! is a real treat. Her youth and soft-beauty are clearly exploited here as a contrast to the world collapsing around her. The camera gleams on her in extreme close-ups as her unease with the situation becomes clearer and clearer, especially with her exasperated looks as more and more people arrive to mess up her home. It really is an exceptional performance.

Aronofksy is said to have written the film out in a five-day fever dream and it certainly plays out that way. Quite what Aronofksy is getting at with mother! is honestly up to the viewer. The film is no rush to explain itself and part of the fun is just going along for the ride. Is it a commentary on fear of pregnancy? Or perhaps even home invasion? Could it be an exploration of a destructive writer-muse relationship? Or, maybe its something even larger, hinting at a rich religious sub-text and impending ecological disaster? Into this steps Javier Bardem, who almost seems immune to all the craziness surrounding him. He is perfectly suited to playing the central role of the husband (titled Him in the credits) - seemingly welcoming all of these strangers into his home, the actor is an expert at creepily not conveying his motivations or feelings.

The film has plenty of strange performances, lines, decisions and moments to keep audience pondering for well after the credits have rolled

As the madness begins to ramp up, it really is clear what a brilliantly made film this is. Aronofksy builds up the tension with increasingly faster cuts, barely letting the scenes we see register. This is also coupled with an out-of-control sound-design, which is a wonder to listen to in the theatre. It's almost like a demonic fair-ground ride - it starts out slow but quickly builds up speed, so you're barely unable to take in your surroundings. Taking all these elements together, mother! is a technical marvel. As more and more people cram into Lawrence's home, the film just ups the ante. And just when you think it can't take things any further, it produces a third act so intense and bizarre that I have a feeling that it will go down in cinematic legend. If you come out of mother! feeling uneasy and slightly nauseous, then it's 100% done its job. Honestly, I couldn't believe I was watching this in a multiplex.

So...yeah, I actually would highly recommend mother! It's certainly an intense experience and one that'll keep you pondering after the screening. If you went in expecting a spooky horror film starring J-Law, you might be disappointed and if you don't have the patience to see it out, I can see why the film wouldn't be for everyone - heck, even anyone! However, if you are willing to give into its crazy world, hopefully with as little knowledge as possible, then mother! is a great time and a work from a filmmaker clearly at the top of his game. mother! will no doubt either infuriate or delight audiences across the land with its oblique and challenging narrative. There's only one "horror" film to see at the cinema at the moment and it doesn't involve a killer clown...