I found it really moving for reasons that are too personal to share here, but yeah, as a film, I thought its 'anchorlessness' worked massively in its favour. Julie is so capricious, finds it so hard to commit to anything, and really is a person of moments (Well, the one thing she does seem to settle on is being a photographer - a cataloguer of moments). She's The Worst Person in the World, but she's also very likeable, and her performance really embodies the film's tone of sunny nihilism. Even though I didn't really like the English language version of Aguas de Marzo in the end credits, as soon as I heard the intro it had me going. It's one of the most bittersweet songs I know. It's all about finding the joy in the little fleeting things in life, while accepting the inevitability of pain, loss, and death. It's a song whose message perfectly reflects the themes of this movie.
I don't think you missed anything. In fact, I found myself nodding along to most of your points. However, for all of the reasons you didn't like it, it was my favorite movie last year. I loved how anchorless it felt. I loved how experimental it was in form and your analogy about how you felt like it was trying on clothes and nothing quite fitting I think plays into the feelings of the character.
I really enjoyed this film and I think it benefits from a second or third viewing. The film felt episodic and choppy simply because it reflects her indecisiveness in purpose in life and in love. Are we the "Worse Person in the world" if we choose our own needs, our own happiness above others? It turns the notion on its head of the typical romantic film we have seen a million times. It is asking do we need other people to complete us? As if we were some puzzle? Or is it generational thing that the expectation of the newer generation is to find a mate, marry and have children? If you go against that is it counterintuitive or does that make you the worse person in the world? We see that in the film with both men who to me seem like solid choices. This one is the most accessible film by this director by far.
I definitely agree that there was some emotional disconnect between us and Julie. I almost think it's intentional, from the third-person narration at the beginning, to the sudden cuts-to-blacks. The way I interpret it is that the intention is for us as the viewers to find a bit of relief in the detachment. I'm also a young woman in my mid-20s and when I'm feeling existentially lost, I find solace in the detached advice that I hear from older, wiser friends -- advice such as "this will pass" or "everything happens for a reason". All these little disjointed challenges that I go through suddenly holds less power to affect me negatively.
I thought it was a wonderful film about the mundane and messy nature of life and the fact that things transpire in unpredictable ways and feelings of love and loss ebb and flow.
New subscriber here! Your eloquence and word choices when reviewing these movies is inspiring. Love that you also balance the merits with the drawbacks of what makes the movie work/not work.
Maggie says the protagonist has an arc, but I wasn't clear on what she meant the arc was, because that was exactly what bothered me about the film - I saw no arc. She's unsure whether to have children (or which job to take) and she's the same way at the end.
I agree with everything you said, no exception. You did an amazing job breaking down why it felt unanchored and aloof. The issue here is in the writing, in the thesis, as you described. A lot of filmmakers understand that when they don't have the answer, leave it to the audience to figure it out. That's why they have a cool, pretry actor play their main character in this situation, they know people will really want to identify with them and fill in the rest with their own ambitions and insecurities. That's what "resonate" means in your comment section.
I haven't seen it or heard of it until this review. I don't even know that the title goes with the plot as I've seen summarized on a few sites so I trust what you are saying thus far.
You've made some good points and I agree with most of them, and they provide me with reasons for not being sold on this one, which I couldn't really think of myself. I saw it and was kinda at loss and couldn't pin point why. I actually do like Trier's previous work, so was excited for this, but it was kinda meh. Perhaps a second watch will do it better. Both Reprise and Oslo, August 31st are VERY good films of his IMO, so if anyone got to Trier by the hype of this new one, you should still give those prior a chance. :)
I have a somewhat different take on this film- it reminded me of "Darling" ( if Julie Christie's character had been without ambition). I liked the film, thinking it was subtly exposing this "lack of direction" as pure narcissism on Julie's part. It is to Reinsve's credit that she plays the part so winningly that so many people can't see the forest for the trees. I wouldn't feel so sure of my read except that Von Trier escalates her narcissism as the film advances- until finally (spoilers) in a horrific scene she asks her dying ex-boyfriend (who so desperately wanted to have children with her) to weigh in on whether he thinks that, since she is pregnant, she would be a good mother. I know I'm from a different generation , but does no one see this as a scene exposing terrible character? Simple test, switch the genders- would anyone not know that the guy is a shit? I felt pity for Julie, but I felt worse about those she came in contact with. The Worst Person In the World? I don't think so, just another contender.
This is one of the rare occasions where I must completely disagree with you, particularly regarding the script. In my view, this film boasts one of the best scripts I’ve encountered in a long time, especially for a film of this length. Many lines truly dazzled me. However, this movie is not for those who have always been certain about their life path. You simply don’t relate to the protagonist. That’s all. I don’t see how this film was aiming to be metaphorical or whatever deeper meaning you took from it. It seems you interpreted it too seriously for what is ultimately an average character portrayal.
I was really looking forward to seeing this movie. Unfortunately, it had a theme and characters that bordered on the cliche - I found much of it meandering and reliant on novel but mannered scenes and events to hold the audiences attention. I found some of these tendencies in Joachim Trier's earlier films, as in "Reprise". It has a bit of the 90's Indie sensibility - a kind of, "look at me do this cool thing that will surprise you" (as in the magic mushroom scene, and others). This theme of a young adult not knowing what to do with their life, feeling lost, questioning every decision, is of course one that's been covered extensively, and in my opinion way better. And I really didn't find the lead actress compelling at all. It was a real disappointment to me. A fairly recent film dealing with a lost soul lead character that for me was creative without being self-consciously mannered, was Mia Hanson-Love's "Eden". That film has stuck in my mind. Still, with all of the formula movies piling up on Netflix (and being nominated for awards), this one is at least attempting to do something different.
After all the critical acclaim and the hype it gets, I thought I was the only one who felt this. I'm thinking what I've missed or maybe I should do a rewatch because it didn't really worked for me. The main character was very relatable but at the same time confusingly very distant from the audience/me.
I said this in another video's comments, but I felt the main character is slightly too young or too old for this specific role. As a younger person, you would feel more sympathy for her because she's going through all the quirks regarding relationships as an innocent. On the other hand, if she was a bit older, say starting from her 30s, she would have all the conflicts of how society pressures her into a serious relationship while she experiments like a teenager. As I watched her in her current age, I just thought "gee, she's awfully clueless for how old she is, and yet not old enough to really make me feel sorry for her". She's just kind of average, doing what people at her age do typically, and nothing is really all that interesting. I know the film is using the "worst person" label as a postmodern ironic thing, but it could have been so much more effective if it actually had weight behind it. And making the character older or younger would have done it.
Maggie your reviews are excellent and i love your honesty, you are not afraid to speak the truth. I've seen some good movies by watching your review videos, 'movies like Lolita 1962" And Maggie can you please review the Forrest Gump movie 1994. This is my favorite of all time.❤ Love you and Stay Safe ❤
I love the way you talk in your reviews. I don't know what your aim is with your RUclips channel, but I think if you can make ur videos a little bit more flashy, you would certainly get a lot more viewers, since your content is amazing! Greetings from Spain!
Thank you for this review, I 100% agree with you!! It seems like everybody thinks The Worst Person in the World is a masterpiece and you sure are in the minority if you express any negative sentiments about the film. I looked forward to seeing this because of all the rave reviews and I liked Joachim Trier's Thelma, so my expectations were high. Based on the reviews I read I was expecting some sort of coming of age story about a woman in her 30's who was lost and unsure of what to do in life, and therefore I was expecting a lot of character depth and a very fleshed out main character (Julie). Naturally, I was expecting to get to know why she felt lost, what it is she wants to do in life, what makes her tick so to speak. However, much like you I never quite understood her, her intentions her ambitions, her hobbies, her career, etc. It heavily focused on the romantic relationships instead, and at times I think her boyfriends were more fleshed out characters than her. This kind of makes sense because the film did give me the typical "female character written by men" vibe. And it's just in the case of The Worst Person in the World, as Joachim Trier and Eskil Vogt wrote the script. The chapter where Julie writes a blogpost about feminism (and much more) becomes especially interesting when you think about the fact it was written by two men (not to say men can't write female characters though, they sure can). What's also interesting is that in an interview I found out Trier and Vogt initially set out to write the film from the perspective of the older boyfriend in his 40's, so that would be Aksel. When I watched the film, I felt like the writers indeed spend more time on Aksel's character than that of Julie. I also felt myself losing attention when there were certain conversations going on, like the one between Julie and her father for example. Much of the dialogue just didn't interest me and didn't resonate at all. Overall, I think the movie felt too cold and distant, I couldn't relate to Julie at all, I didn't have much empathy for her or both her boyfriends. Somebody on Letterboxd said it well when they said "I feel like all of these characters would push me aside at a coffeeshop." and that is indeed a decent description of the characters which I deem fitting. I find it interesting how so many people relate to Julie and see this film as a masterpiece. I think it was quite a mediocre film and would give it around a 5 or 6 out of 10.
I'm curious if you've seen any films by Michel Franco. I recently watched his latest effort, Sundown, which I found extremely interesting but unsatisfying, held together only by Tim Roth's incredible performance. His stuff has been compared to Haneke and he's definitely quite a provocateur, and I'd be curious to hear your opinions on any of his films
I highly recommend you check out the Australian film ‘Nitram’ starring Caleb Landry Jones about the biggest mass shooting in Australia. One of the best films I’ve seen in a long time
maybe the problem is that she feels like a lonely and uninteresting character, like the only fun she ever has is with her bfs and she doesnt have friends, its a bit depressing lol but i find whenever in a movie a character has no friends and they only have romantic interesting it feels untrue and flat?
Totally agree with your analysis on this. There are directors such as James L. Brooks and Woody Allen who could breathe life into this sort of story, and probably half of this picture does work, but there's never that moment of self-discovery, where we can feel elated or devastated, or in some way connected. It's as if because this character is not "anchored" then the movie itself can't be anchored and that is a real disservice to the audience. There are plenty of great stories out there of lost, disconnected characters who don't need a clever tragedy-device to push the story in a direction. In fact, if anything it just makes it that much more empty. Not a terrible film, just not a real good one.
How strange to find a review that isn't 'gushing' enthusiastically all over it. I watched this movie with 'little to no' expectations… didn’t know anything about it, but did know that it had a bit of a ‘buzz’ It started off OK. Seemed like a sophisticated urban story of rich ‘westerners’ with some existential angst ( growing up, finding yourself, etc, etc. ) issues. A ditsy main protagonist ( A Dakota Johnson doppelgänger ) finds herself in a relationship with a sorted, 'yet excruciatingly boring guy’ ( He draws adult comic books… and has a creepy vibe, as only an actor playing a 'comic obsessed nutter' could possibly pull off. ) So she runs off and has a fling with a guy, after sniffing his sweaty armpits. It’s another one of those films… that if you’re a critic, you generally can’t diss it. Because ‘at least it's trying to do something a little different’ Even if all of the stand out moments... felt like they fell out of a commercial advert shoot. Sometimes the cult of personality works its magic. I feel many people fell in love with the main actress. They could've watched virtually any 'cinematic structural narrative' strung around her and still come away, beaming with rave reviews. There’re some interesting moments, a few arresting, cinematically sweeping ideas… but as a ‘whole’, it completely fell apart in the final third… as the ( creepy ) guy she dumped, becomes terminally ill and she’s forced to reassess her carefree ditsy ways. It’s so badly handled, so saccharin and obvious… that it spoils anything genuine, that the filmmakers were trying for up to that point. It’s one of those films that you can see merit in it, whilst viewing… but by the time it’s over, you 'sort of' feel cheated. You know this was made by rich European yuppies, with only their rich yuppie lifestyle to draw upon. So if you're a rich, carefree 'westerner' - I'm sure this film resonates with you perfectly.
I watched this with my mom and we were both pretty lukewarm on it. I think I might've liked the film better if it interrogated Julie's character a bit more rigorously. I can respect that it's aimless, but I think if you're going that route then you really have to make the character the story is revolving around interesting and while I can respect Renate Reinsve's performance, I just didn't find much to be going on with Julie beyond what I gathered from the film's first few scenes.
Exactly that's also what I felt. The first part caught my attention and sucked me in immediately, but as the films goes longer I find it redundant and not much happening on Julie's character besides her choosing which of the two guys she should live with.
Thank you! This is the most overrated film of 2021. It's incredibly shallow, and the Julie character acts like a teenager even though she is about to turn 30. Unfortunately, this is something that many millennials identify with. They hear a whiny line like "I'm playing a supporting role in my own life" and mistake it for something profound. The film is even worse if you understand the dialogue. Interestingly enough, the film received worse reviews in Eastern Europe, where people tend to grow up faster. A Polish female critic compared the film to Woody Allen, as well. The success in the Anglo-Saxon markets is not surprising since it is a rom-com in arthouse clothing. Such works are generally successful in those markets. I'm saddened by the positive reviews in Western Europe, though. You are also right about Renate Reinsve being a fabulous presence in the film, but to no avail for the film overall. It's not surprising that she is already getting roles abroad.
"a rom-com in arthouse clothing" - exactly. I wish I could even say that I found Reinsve (the lead actress) compelling, but I didn't. An art film for shallow millennials. And definitely full of gimmicks. It was my biggest disappointment in movies for 2021.
Your line of reasoning is completely backwards. Julie is depicted like a childish, aimless (not so) young adult, that never wants to commit, because she thinks she's meant for "more". The title itself is "the worst person in the world" ffs, it's certainly not a celebration of the peter pan syndrome. It's not a condemnation of it either, which in itself seems like a very fair point of view, since there is no pretense to jump on a soap box to tell anyone what a proper adult should look like. I mean: "Julie character acts like a teenager even though she is about to turn 30". No shit, that's the whole point of the movie.
@@UrbanRats That may be the "point" of the film (which is completely obvious) but a movie is about much more than the point its trying to make. For me it was uninspired and full of gimmicks and uncompelling characters. I do enjoy Anders Danielsen Lie in just about everything I see him in - for me he was the high point of the movie, even though the way he was used was obvious and manipulative. This was one of the films I was most looking forward to in 2021 - I was all primed to love it - but it left me yawning and kind of depressed that this is what so many now hold up as artistic cinema.
I agree with you completely!! Are you Norwegian? I was wondering whether the film did less well in its country of origin. I can imagine that the film is even worse when you can understand the dialogue. I also feel like people relish the idea of watching foreign films and that this label of a foreign film makes them attribute characteristics to the film that it does not have in reality, like depth or profundity as you indicated yourself.
@@Lisa-qt4hh No, I'm American, but I've seen Anders in a number of films, including the recent "Bergman Island", and I always find him interesting to watch - he has an intelligence and sensitivity that comes through. This was art cinema-lite and I guess as an obvious crowd-pleaser and with foreign film credentials and a director of reputation it was primed for hype. Having said that - if many people find it entertaining then that's all well and good - people these days need to find pleasure wherever they can, especially in the arts which are now highly challenged and corporate. Its very difficult to find funding for independent films. I just wish it had more depth and less attention getting gimmicks.
The best Paul Thomas Anderson film since Phantom Thread. Felt very much like contemporary-set early PTA, especially Punch-Drunk Love. EDIT: Maybe the French title "Julie en 12 Chapitres" would've prepared you more for the structure.
Disappointed to hear you didn't connect with this excellent film. A surprisingly subversive conservative film, mind you ... coming from Europe of all places. And if that triggers some of you, then it certainly comes down subtly on the side of tradition. Yes, it paints falling in love with someone new as ecstatic and enthralling. Yes, kids are frequently noisy and bothersome. Yes, building a career is hard and often frustrating. But in the end, the film to me suggests that though they have some upsides, rootlessness, singlehood, childlessness, and, quite frankly narcissism, are phases to be passed through before moving on to richer, deeper pastures if one is to lead a full if painful life. The final scene (without giving away any specifics for those who haven't seen the film yet) is at best a lukewarm win for our protagonist. Two Cheers for modern feminism and progressivism is what this film seems to be saying. Loved it.
These comments are weird. A lot of the comments jokingly suggesting on who the title might refer to kind of shows how right wing Maggie’s audience is. Out of all people, you guys are choosing partisan liberal hacks who really aren’t a threat lol
@@123rockfan Yeah I feel like Maggie makes it clear that her stuff is apolitical and does a good job of avoiding taking a political stance on things, and yet it always feels like these comment sections are ultra reactionary and "anti-woke". It's almost like right wingers will latch onto anyone that doesn't clearly declare themselves to be leftist/liberal in a desperate attempt to feel validated, but that's just me. I'm here for the movie reviews; I get my political validation elsewhere
![Twenty One Pilots - The Line (from Arcane Season 2) [Official Audio]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/XCz7WUotXs8/mqdefault.jpg)
I found it really moving for reasons that are too personal to share here, but yeah, as a film, I thought its 'anchorlessness' worked massively in its favour.
Julie is so capricious, finds it so hard to commit to anything, and really is a person of moments (Well, the one thing she does seem to settle on is being a photographer - a cataloguer of moments). She's The Worst Person in the World, but she's also very likeable, and her performance really embodies the film's tone of sunny nihilism.
Even though I didn't really like the English language version of Aguas de Marzo in the end credits, as soon as I heard the intro it had me going. It's one of the most bittersweet songs I know. It's all about finding the joy in the little fleeting things in life, while accepting the inevitability of pain, loss, and death. It's a song whose message perfectly reflects the themes of this movie.
I don't think you missed anything. In fact, I found myself nodding along to most of your points. However, for all of the reasons you didn't like it, it was my favorite movie last year. I loved how anchorless it felt. I loved how experimental it was in form and your analogy about how you felt like it was trying on clothes and nothing quite fitting I think plays into the feelings of the character.
I really enjoyed this film and I think it benefits from a second or third viewing. The film felt episodic and choppy simply because it reflects her indecisiveness in purpose in life and in love. Are we the "Worse Person in the world" if we choose our own needs, our own happiness above others? It turns the notion on its head of the typical romantic film we have seen a million times. It is asking do we need other people to complete us? As if we were some puzzle? Or is it generational thing that the expectation of the newer generation is to find a mate, marry and have children? If you go against that is it counterintuitive or does that make you the worse person in the world? We see that in the film with both men who to me seem like solid choices. This one is the most accessible film by this director by far.
I definitely agree that there was some emotional disconnect between us and Julie. I almost think it's intentional, from the third-person narration at the beginning, to the sudden cuts-to-blacks. The way I interpret it is that the intention is for us as the viewers to find a bit of relief in the detachment. I'm also a young woman in my mid-20s and when I'm feeling existentially lost, I find solace in the detached advice that I hear from older, wiser friends -- advice such as "this will pass" or "everything happens for a reason". All these little disjointed challenges that I go through suddenly holds less power to affect me negatively.
I thought it was a wonderful film about the mundane and messy nature of life and the fact that things transpire in unpredictable ways and feelings of love and loss ebb and flow.
I’d recommend watching it again thinking about how the lack of an anchor actually is the point / anchor itself
That wouldn't help. However, the success of the film says something about the culture we live in.
@@sandorx4 agree
@@sandorx4interesting can you elaborate pls
New subscriber here! Your eloquence and word choices when reviewing these movies is inspiring. Love that you also balance the merits with the drawbacks of what makes the movie work/not work.
Maggie says the protagonist has an arc, but I wasn't clear on what she meant the arc was, because that was exactly what bothered me about the film - I saw no arc. She's unsure whether to have children (or which job to take) and she's the same way at the end.
true. In fact, others seemed to suffer the "consequences" of her "unsured" decision making in life.
Yeah I thought her arc didn’t change, it was the changing of those around her that revealed she’s stayed the same.
This is a rare 10/10 for me. A perfect movie.
It's actually part of the Oslo triology, by Joachim Trier.
oh shit, i thought it was dakota johnson, the actress looks like her
I agree with everything you said, no exception. You did an amazing job breaking down why it felt unanchored and aloof.
The issue here is in the writing, in the thesis, as you described. A lot of filmmakers understand that when they don't have the answer, leave it to the audience to figure it out.
That's why they have a cool, pretry actor play their main character in this situation, they know people will really want to identify with them and fill in the rest with their own ambitions and insecurities. That's what "resonate" means in your comment section.
I haven't seen it or heard of it until this review. I don't even know that the title goes with the plot as I've seen summarized on a few sites so I trust what you are saying thus far.
You've made some good points and I agree with most of them, and they provide me with reasons for not being sold on this one, which I couldn't really think of myself. I saw it and was kinda at loss and couldn't pin point why. I actually do like Trier's previous work, so was excited for this, but it was kinda meh. Perhaps a second watch will do it better.
Both Reprise and Oslo, August 31st are VERY good films of his IMO, so if anyone got to Trier by the hype of this new one, you should still give those prior a chance. :)
I have a somewhat different take on this film- it reminded me of "Darling" ( if Julie Christie's character had been without ambition). I liked the film, thinking it was subtly exposing this "lack of direction" as pure narcissism on Julie's part. It is to Reinsve's credit that she plays the part so winningly that so many people can't see the forest for the trees. I wouldn't feel so sure of my read except that Von Trier escalates her narcissism as the film advances- until finally (spoilers) in a horrific scene she asks her dying ex-boyfriend (who so desperately wanted to have children with her) to weigh in on whether he thinks that, since she is pregnant, she would be a good mother. I know I'm from a different generation , but does no one see this as a scene exposing terrible character? Simple test, switch the genders- would anyone not know that the guy is a shit? I felt pity for Julie, but I felt worse about those she came in contact with. The Worst Person In the World? I don't think so, just another contender.
I’ve Seen A Clip On TikTok For The Film Called “The Worst Person In Person In The World”. But I’ve Never Seen It Before.
This is one of the rare occasions where I must completely disagree with you, particularly regarding the script. In my view, this film boasts one of the best scripts I’ve encountered in a long time, especially for a film of this length. Many lines truly dazzled me. However, this movie is not for those who have always been certain about their life path. You simply don’t relate to the protagonist. That’s all. I don’t see how this film was aiming to be metaphorical or whatever deeper meaning you took from it. It seems you interpreted it too seriously for what is ultimately an average character portrayal.
I was really looking forward to seeing this movie. Unfortunately, it had a theme and characters that bordered on the cliche - I found much of it meandering and reliant on novel but mannered scenes and events to hold the audiences attention. I found some of these tendencies in Joachim Trier's earlier films, as in "Reprise". It has a bit of the 90's Indie sensibility - a kind of, "look at me do this cool thing that will surprise you" (as in the magic mushroom scene, and others). This theme of a young adult not knowing what to do with their life, feeling lost, questioning every decision, is of course one that's been covered extensively, and in my opinion way better. And I really didn't find the lead actress compelling at all. It was a real disappointment to me. A fairly recent film dealing with a lost soul lead character that for me was creative without being self-consciously mannered, was Mia Hanson-Love's "Eden". That film has stuck in my mind. Still, with all of the formula movies piling up on Netflix (and being nominated for awards), this one is at least attempting to do something different.
This reminds me the Japanese movie, We Couldn't Become Adults. Anyway, Julie is the Bobcat living among house cats.
Yes i know what you say but movie will go to melodrama tragedy, for me movie is one of best of last year
After all the critical acclaim and the hype it gets, I thought I was the only one who felt this. I'm thinking what I've missed or maybe I should do a rewatch because it didn't really worked for me. The main character was very relatable but at the same time confusingly very distant from the audience/me.
I said this in another video's comments, but I felt the main character is slightly too young or too old for this specific role. As a younger person, you would feel more sympathy for her because she's going through all the quirks regarding relationships as an innocent. On the other hand, if she was a bit older, say starting from her 30s, she would have all the conflicts of how society pressures her into a serious relationship while she experiments like a teenager. As I watched her in her current age, I just thought "gee, she's awfully clueless for how old she is, and yet not old enough to really make me feel sorry for her". She's just kind of average, doing what people at her age do typically, and nothing is really all that interesting. I know the film is using the "worst person" label as a postmodern ironic thing, but it could have been so much more effective if it actually had weight behind it. And making the character older or younger would have done it.
Maggie your reviews are excellent and i love your honesty, you are not afraid to speak the truth. I've seen some good movies by watching your review videos, 'movies like Lolita 1962"
And Maggie can you please review the Forrest Gump movie 1994. This is my favorite of all time.❤ Love you and Stay Safe ❤
Loved your words for this film. Also, your audio is sounding a bit clearer lately, which is v nice
Finally a down to earth review. I agree with your take.
I love the way you talk in your reviews. I don't know what your aim is with your RUclips channel, but I think if you can make ur videos a little bit more flashy, you would certainly get a lot more viewers, since your content is amazing! Greetings from Spain!
Thank you for this review, I 100% agree with you!! It seems like everybody thinks The Worst Person in the World is a masterpiece and you sure are in the minority if you express any negative sentiments about the film. I looked forward to seeing this because of all the rave reviews and I liked Joachim Trier's Thelma, so my expectations were high. Based on the reviews I read I was expecting some sort of coming of age story about a woman in her 30's who was lost and unsure of what to do in life, and therefore I was expecting a lot of character depth and a very fleshed out main character (Julie). Naturally, I was expecting to get to know why she felt lost, what it is she wants to do in life, what makes her tick so to speak. However, much like you I never quite understood her, her intentions her ambitions, her hobbies, her career, etc. It heavily focused on the romantic relationships instead, and at times I think her boyfriends were more fleshed out characters than her. This kind of makes sense because the film did give me the typical "female character written by men" vibe. And it's just in the case of The Worst Person in the World, as Joachim Trier and Eskil Vogt wrote the script. The chapter where Julie writes a blogpost about feminism (and much more) becomes especially interesting when you think about the fact it was written by two men (not to say men can't write female characters though, they sure can). What's also interesting is that in an interview I found out Trier and Vogt initially set out to write the film from the perspective of the older boyfriend in his 40's, so that would be Aksel. When I watched the film, I felt like the writers indeed spend more time on Aksel's character than that of Julie. I also felt myself losing attention when there were certain conversations going on, like the one between Julie and her father for example. Much of the dialogue just didn't interest me and didn't resonate at all. Overall, I think the movie felt too cold and distant, I couldn't relate to Julie at all, I didn't have much empathy for her or both her boyfriends. Somebody on Letterboxd said it well when they said "I feel like all of these characters would push me aside at a coffeeshop." and that is indeed a decent description of the characters which I deem fitting. I find it interesting how so many people relate to Julie and see this film as a masterpiece. I think it was quite a mediocre film and would give it around a 5 or 6 out of 10.
From 0:43 to 1:25, amazing analysis and reflection.
I'm curious if you've seen any films by Michel Franco. I recently watched his latest effort, Sundown, which I found extremely interesting but unsatisfying, held together only by Tim Roth's incredible performance. His stuff has been compared to Haneke and he's definitely quite a provocateur, and I'd be curious to hear your opinions on any of his films
Have you seen Oslo, August 31st? It’s my personal favorite of the Oslo trilogy?
I highly recommend you check out the Australian film ‘Nitram’ starring Caleb Landry Jones about the biggest mass shooting in Australia. One of the best films I’ve seen in a long time
maybe the problem is that she feels like a lonely and uninteresting character, like the only fun she ever has is with her bfs and she doesnt have friends, its a bit depressing lol but i find whenever in a movie a character has no friends and they only have romantic interesting it feels untrue and flat?
No, this movie was definitely not for me. Never seeing it again.
Saw it at the theater. Liked it.
Totally agree with your analysis on this. There are directors such as James L. Brooks and Woody Allen who could breathe life into this sort of story, and probably half of this picture does work, but there's never that moment of self-discovery, where we can feel elated or devastated, or in some way connected. It's as if because this character is not "anchored" then the movie itself can't be anchored and that is a real disservice to the audience. There are plenty of great stories out there of lost, disconnected characters who don't need a clever tragedy-device to push the story in a direction. In fact, if anything it just makes it that much more empty. Not a terrible film, just not a real good one.
No, it wasn't "The Worse Film In The World" - just a shallow and gimmick filled disappointment - at least to me.
Is this a BILL GATES biography?
You coulda picked any of the billionaires who actually don't give anything back lol
I watched it. Some of it. Some was too much because there was already so little.
Great description, nailed it
Everything Everywhere All At Once, let’s goooo
Where's the "best love story" video?????
Next week
It's funny, and apt, to hear a hipster calling others 'hipsters' to try and make a point that doesn't really work.
I'm not a hipster.
Tony Blair?
Are you going to to watch the new film "Men" by Alex Garland?
Its Alex Garland and has Jessie Buckley in it of course she will.
How strange to find a review that isn't 'gushing' enthusiastically all over it.
I watched this movie with 'little to no' expectations… didn’t know anything about it, but did know that it had a bit of a ‘buzz’ It started off OK. Seemed like a sophisticated urban story of rich ‘westerners’ with some existential angst ( growing up, finding yourself, etc, etc. ) issues. A ditsy main protagonist ( A Dakota Johnson doppelgänger ) finds herself in a relationship with a sorted, 'yet excruciatingly boring guy’ ( He draws adult comic books… and has a creepy vibe, as only an actor playing a 'comic obsessed nutter' could possibly pull off. )
So she runs off and has a fling with a guy, after sniffing his sweaty armpits.
It’s another one of those films… that if you’re a critic, you generally can’t diss it.
Because ‘at least it's trying to do something a little different’
Even if all of the stand out moments... felt like they fell out of a commercial advert shoot.
Sometimes the cult of personality works its magic. I feel many people fell in love with the main actress.
They could've watched virtually any 'cinematic structural narrative' strung around her and still come away,
beaming with rave reviews.
There’re some interesting moments, a few arresting, cinematically sweeping ideas… but as a ‘whole’,
it completely fell apart in the final third… as the ( creepy ) guy she dumped,
becomes terminally ill and she’s forced to reassess her carefree ditsy ways.
It’s so badly handled, so saccharin and obvious… that it spoils anything genuine,
that the filmmakers were trying for up to that point.
It’s one of those films that you can see merit in it, whilst viewing… but by the time it’s over,
you 'sort of' feel cheated. You know this was made by rich European yuppies, with only their rich yuppie
lifestyle to draw upon. So if you're a rich, carefree 'westerner' - I'm sure this film resonates with you perfectly.
This was a great film though I was lost at the last scene
I watched this with my mom and we were both pretty lukewarm on it. I think I might've liked the film better if it interrogated Julie's character a bit more rigorously. I can respect that it's aimless, but I think if you're going that route then you really have to make the character the story is revolving around interesting and while I can respect Renate Reinsve's performance, I just didn't find much to be going on with Julie beyond what I gathered from the film's first few scenes.
Exactly that's also what I felt. The first part caught my attention and sucked me in immediately, but as the films goes longer I find it redundant and not much happening on Julie's character besides her choosing which of the two guys she should live with.
Thank you! This is the most overrated film of 2021. It's incredibly shallow, and the Julie character acts like a teenager even though she is about to turn 30. Unfortunately, this is something that many millennials identify with. They hear a whiny line like "I'm playing a supporting role in my own life" and mistake it for something profound. The film is even worse if you understand the dialogue. Interestingly enough, the film received worse reviews in Eastern Europe, where people tend to grow up faster. A Polish female critic compared the film to Woody Allen, as well.
The success in the Anglo-Saxon markets is not surprising since it is a rom-com in arthouse clothing. Such works are generally successful in those markets. I'm saddened by the positive reviews in Western Europe, though. You are also right about Renate Reinsve being a fabulous presence in the film, but to no avail for the film overall. It's not surprising that she is already getting roles abroad.
"a rom-com in arthouse clothing" - exactly. I wish I could even say that I found Reinsve (the lead actress) compelling, but I didn't. An art film for shallow millennials. And definitely full of gimmicks. It was my biggest disappointment in movies for 2021.
Your line of reasoning is completely backwards.
Julie is depicted like a childish, aimless (not so) young adult, that never wants to commit, because she thinks she's meant for "more".
The title itself is "the worst person in the world" ffs, it's certainly not a celebration of the peter pan syndrome.
It's not a condemnation of it either, which in itself seems like a very fair point of view, since there is no pretense to jump on a soap box to tell anyone what a proper adult should look like.
I mean:
"Julie character acts like a teenager even though she is about to turn 30".
No shit, that's the whole point of the movie.
@@UrbanRats That may be the "point" of the film (which is completely obvious) but a movie is about much more than the point its trying to make. For me it was uninspired and full of gimmicks and uncompelling characters. I do enjoy Anders Danielsen Lie in just about everything I see him in - for me he was the high point of the movie, even though the way he was used was obvious and manipulative. This was one of the films I was most looking forward to in 2021 - I was all primed to love it - but it left me yawning and kind of depressed that this is what so many now hold up as artistic cinema.
I agree with you completely!! Are you Norwegian? I was wondering whether the film did less well in its country of origin. I can imagine that the film is even worse when you can understand the dialogue. I also feel like people relish the idea of watching foreign films and that this label of a foreign film makes them attribute characteristics to the film that it does not have in reality, like depth or profundity as you indicated yourself.
@@Lisa-qt4hh No, I'm American, but I've seen Anders in a number of films, including the recent "Bergman Island", and I always find him interesting to watch - he has an intelligence and sensitivity that comes through. This was art cinema-lite and I guess as an obvious crowd-pleaser and with foreign film credentials and a director of reputation it was primed for hype. Having said that - if many people find it entertaining then that's all well and good - people these days need to find pleasure wherever they can, especially in the arts which are now highly challenged and corporate. Its very difficult to find funding for independent films. I just wish it had more depth and less attention getting gimmicks.
The best Paul Thomas Anderson film since Phantom Thread.
Felt very much like contemporary-set early PTA, especially Punch-Drunk Love.
EDIT: Maybe the French title "Julie en 12 Chapitres" would've prepared you more for the structure.
And I 100% agree
Great film.
This movie didn't work for me either. A few scenes like stopping the world and the magic mushroom trip were outstanding but mostly I was bored.
I found those scenes mannered - same for the scene of the future lovers watching each other urinating 5 minutes after they meet - talk about precious.
I felt the same way you did about the film, zero emotionally resonant even though I was looking forward to it
Deeplens you certainly are not!!! Lmao 😆
I don’t get all the hype this movie gets... It was ok but not really that great
Scandinavian Culture Worker Twitter: The Movie
I’m So Glad You Watched & Liked The Film Called “The Worst Person In The World”.
I like this review
Disagree with almost everything you said. It happens.
Disappointed to hear you didn't connect with this excellent film. A surprisingly subversive conservative film, mind you ... coming from Europe of all places. And if that triggers some of you, then it certainly comes down subtly on the side of tradition. Yes, it paints falling in love with someone new as ecstatic and enthralling. Yes, kids are frequently noisy and bothersome. Yes, building a career is hard and often frustrating. But in the end, the film to me suggests that though they have some upsides, rootlessness, singlehood, childlessness, and, quite frankly narcissism, are phases to be passed through before moving on to richer, deeper pastures if one is to lead a full if painful life. The final scene (without giving away any specifics for those who haven't seen the film yet) is at best a lukewarm win for our protagonist. Two Cheers for modern feminism and progressivism is what this film seems to be saying. Loved it.
Before I watch this video, Is this about Whoopi Goldberg?
These comments are weird. A lot of the comments jokingly suggesting on who the title might refer to kind of shows how right wing Maggie’s audience is. Out of all people, you guys are choosing partisan liberal hacks who really aren’t a threat lol
@@123rockfan Yeah I feel like Maggie makes it clear that her stuff is apolitical and does a good job of avoiding taking a political stance on things, and yet it always feels like these comment sections are ultra reactionary and "anti-woke". It's almost like right wingers will latch onto anyone that doesn't clearly declare themselves to be leftist/liberal in a desperate attempt to feel validated, but that's just me. I'm here for the movie reviews; I get my political validation elsewhere
Get a job.
@@johnkaiser709 Do you use that response a lot towards people that you disagree with? Pretty lame lol
@@johnkaiser709 LOL, why are you so mad, buttercup?
This movie just sounds overall bad and too complex like thanks for saving my time LOL
Lovely lady😍