Bold, brazen, bananas filmmaking at its most skilled, Aronofsky's phantasmagorical nightmare tale is riveting. Somehow, he made a film that is only allegory; this movie doesn't work without the audience investing their meaning into it. The narrative is nonsense when viewed literally, and that is perhaps the bravest thing about it (although a crowd ripping apart a baby is pretty brave, too).
Jennifer Lawrence is excellent as the loving and lost central figure, the woman whose allegiance to her husband brings about her own downfall and perhaps that of society's as well. There is a clear analogy here, but to belabor that is to have the wrong conversation.
In smaller supporting roles, Ed Harris, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Domhnall Gleeson are superb, and Bardem is appropriately distant and unknowable. Great stuff.
Jennifer Lawrence is excellent as the loving and lost central figure, the woman whose allegiance to her husband brings about her own downfall and perhaps that of society's as well. There is a clear analogy here, but to belabor that is to have the wrong conversation.
In smaller supporting roles, Ed Harris, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Domhnall Gleeson are superb, and Bardem is appropriately distant and unknowable. Great stuff.
