Promising Young Woman (2020)
Laura’s Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
One of few movies to come out in 2020, this movie premiered at the Sundance film festival in January 2020 and in theaters that December. Promising Young Woman was nominated for Best Picture and several other Academy Awards, coming away with the win for Best Original Screenplay.
The Analysis:
Cassie Thomas’s best friend and medical school classmate, Nina, was raped by a fellow student and later died by suicide following the incident. Unable to let go of the past, Cassie lives with her parents after dropping out of school and seeks to deliver vengeance to men like the one who assaulted her friend.
A refreshing and new take on a revenge plot, this movie balances serious subject matter with humor and lighter moments, giving the film a darkly funny but haunting tone. The juxtaposition of tones matches Cassie’s struggle between seeking revenge for the past and moving on to potentially become happy again. The mix of genres is difficult to pull off, but writer/director Emerald Fennell strikes the right balance of uncomfortable and impactful. Following an uptick in recent reports of sexual assault and holding offenders accountable, this movie is modern and relevant.
The acting by stars Carrie Mulligan and Bo Burnham was excellent. The supporting cast, including Allison Brie and Max Greenfield also turned in realistic and believable performances. The unexpected ending still has me thinking about it. I’d recommend this to anyone looking for something different.
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