Monday, April 04, 2022

No Power movie

I had grave doubts I would like it, but I watched The Power of the Dog on the weekend anyway.

It confirmed my suspicions that Jane Campion is probably the most over-rated director of my lifetime - as far as I can tell, she wins awards for making dark, feminist, "outsider" stories (featuring sexual tension) that don't shy away from male nudity.   It's a very specific genre.   [Insert eye-roll emoji here.]

There are several problematic things about the film, all of which are covered well on any site which allows public comments.  I think my main objection is the lack of subtlety - the "problem" with the main character is telegraphed from early on, and it's then dealt with in increasingly obvious (and actually laughably unsubtle) ways in both dialogue and action.  And, to be honest, we don't really understand any other character at all well.  Why the new wife freaks out so early about her new household arrangements is never really made clear.  

It does have "liberal Hollywood award bait" written all over it, though.   It's just that I reckon there's no way it will have legs in cinematic history.

Update:  she is not without her high profile critics.  Philip Adams hates The Piano, for example.  And when an ABC breakfast host (Michael Rowland) says he couldn't stick with the Power movie, you know it's not just some Adam's personal grudge - her liberal credentials are just not enough for some even in ABC land. 

Update 2:  as I have said, there are plenty of people who don't like the film; mainly audience members, not professional critics.  But one critic did write, in a spoiler full review:

This is a serious movie for serious people, but it leans so hard into its seriousness that it almost emerges out the other side as camp.


No comments: