The Oscars 2021: Part 4.

To be read as a direct continuation of Part 3; https://watchitdie.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-oscars-2021-part-3.html

Promising Young Woman: Despite it's appearance this is another British movie.

Telling the story of; "Cassie" played by Carey Mulligan. 

Cassie dropped out of medical school after her friend was gang-raped whilst drunk a Fraternity (Frat) House party and subsequently committed suicide. 

Cassie now takes revenge on men who similarly try to take advantage of drunk women.

As we know from Chloe Zhao I used to live in Brighton, UK. During what is known as; "The Beslan Era" I lived in a large houseshare.

In many ways this was the antithesis of a Frat House. 

For example we had a policy of gender parity. A variety of races and nationalities stretching for as far afield as South Africa, Hong Kong and Australia. Also only about half of us were ever actually in university.

However, with liberal use of artistic license. I suppose it could be described as a Frat House.

It's certainly been alleged. By Season 7, Episode 5; "Selfless" of the US TV show "Buffy The Vampire Slayer."

That one of the women living in the house claimed to have been raped by a man outside of the household. Prompting one of the men living in the house to conclude that it was time for the man responsible to die.

This movie feels like an incredibly expensive way. For Britain to have me NOT tell any more of that story.

Let's all take a moment though to honour those unsung heroes of the industry. The casting directors.

Particularly Julie Tucker and Ross Meyerson. The casting director for the TV show; "The Affair." This featured four child characters. Three of whom were recast at various points during the production.

Not the "Whitney Solloway" character though. Tucker and Meyerson were able to look at her as a child and know the Whitney Solloway she would grow into.

Beyond that Promising Young Woman is really just a machine gun parade of references to other, much better, TV shows and movies.

For example Cassie is a thirty something blonde whose life is hardly going well. 

Almost exactly like the Cassie character in the; "Flight Attendant" (2021) TV show. Kaley Cuoco's first big project since "The Big Bang Theory."

Her mother is played by Jennifer Coolidge. Famous as the; "Stifler's Mom" character from the; "American Pie" movies. Her father is played by Clancy Brown who appears as the woodshop teacher in the US TV sitcom; "The Goldbergs."

In the scenes with her parents. Cassie closely resembles the; "Bernadette" character from The Big Bang Theory.

The scenes where the exterior of the family of house are shown. Seem to be a nod to “Gone Girl” (2014).

There also seems to be a nod to “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" 2017. With three billboard like freight cars crossing a railroad bridge in the background of another scene.

In the scenes with Cassie’s friend; "Madison McPhee" played by Alison Brie. 

Their relationship resembles the one between Tina Fey's "Kim Barker" character and Margot Robbie's character "Tanya Vandapoel" in the 2017 movie; "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot." Set in America's longest war in Afghanistan.

Probably Margot Robbie's most famous character is Harley Quinn from the DC Universe of comic book movies. She is certainly referenced by Cassie's demonic nurse persona, complete with multicoloured hair. Used in much of the publicity for the movie.

Margot Robbie actually co-produced Promising Young Woman. Her ego seems to be one of its suggested topics of conversation.

As a nominee Margot Robbie attended the 2017 Oscars in a gold dress. The same gold as the trophy. Which seemed a little presumptuous.

This was something that all British actresses; Carey Mulligan, Andra Day etc who attended the ceremony this year repeated.

When one of the Frat brothers appears in Promising Young Woman he resembles Nick Jonas. Particularly in his role in the 2016 movie "Goat." About violence, particularly sexual violence within Fraternity culture.

The visual style of the movie, with its sort of hyper-realistic colour palate. Is a reference to the 2002 movie; "Secretary." Starring Maggie Gyllenhaall.

During the Beslan Era I owned a copy of Secretary on DVD. Before lending it to someone and never getting it back. Not that I'm particularly sure how, or even if that's important.

Most recently Maggie Gyllenhaall has been seen in the TV series; "The Deuce."

Miley Cyrus' latest look seems modelled on the; "Abby Parker" character's progression in that show. From spoiled rich girl to punk rock chick.

Possibly because my brother gave me Season 1 of The Deuce on DVD for Christmas. That same Christmas Miley Cyrus got married and my brother set himself up for a lifetime of mockery.

Between Secretary and The Deuce Maggie Gyllenhall worked with Hugo Blick on the 2014 TV show; "The Honourable Woman." 

Hugo Blick's next project was the 2018 TV show; "Black Earth Rising." Featuring Michaela Coel.

Michaela Coel has now become very famous. Due to the 2020 TV series; "I May Destroy You." Which she created, wrote, directed, produced and starred in.

Promising Young Woman seems to be a stand-in for I May Destroy You. Which, like Ruth Wilson, isn't eligible for consideration by the Academy. Despite the line between TV and movies becoming increasingly blurred.

Promising Young Woman lays out its story in a series of Acts. Clearly demarked by onscreen graphics.

This device seems intended as a reference to Lars von Trier's five and a half hour onslaught; "Nymphomaniac" (2013).

Nymphomaniac is really a statement about the importance of freedom of expression. Including the freedom to offend. 

It makes this point by being aggressively, overbearingly sexual. This is not a movie that features people pretending to have sex. This is a movie that features people actually having sex.

One particularly eye-watering scene. Features the lead actress performing, to completion, oral sex on a paedophile. As a reward for him admitting that he is a paedophile.

I promise you. You will never be able to watch the Marvel “Thor” movies in quite the same way again.

Referencing Nymphomaniac here really helps drive home the point. That within in the wide world of the art of filmmaking. The Oscars are very mainstream. Very tame. Very safe.

The cast of Nymphomaniac includes Shia LaBeouf. Rumour has it that he has a tendency to be aggressively, overbearingly sexual on all the movie sets he works on.

So by referencing Nymphomaniac here Promising Young Woman was attempting to contribute to the traditional debate. About what is socially acceptable to show on screen. In terms of sex and nudity. 

Alongside the #MeToo debate. About the impacts on the people who have to appear in nude or sexualised scenes.

The central theme of Promising Young Woman is a woman taking revenge on male sexual predators. Obviously inspired by the Feminist #MeToo movement.

However it pales into comparison with the 2005 movie "Hard Candy." 

This is small, mircobudget independent movie. So recommending it during the Oscars might risk over-hyping it. Particularly as, with it's themes of technology, it is starting to look rather dated.

Hard Candy tells the story or a paedophile grooming a 14-15 year old girl online. Then luring her to his home for sex.

However it turns out that the girl is actually much older. It is she who has been luring him. Into a trap where she can torture him as punishment for his paedophilia.

This torture goes to such an extreme extent. That you, I wouldn't say feel sorry for him. However you're certainly left asking yourself uncomfortable questions as to whether his crimes are actually so bad as to deserve all that.

That is, of course, part of what good art is supposed to do. Force you to ask challenging questions about how you view the World.

Hard Candy was the debut movie of Ellen Page. Who is now known as Elliot Page having changed genders from female to male. Or some would say confirmed his male gender.

Promising Young Woman features Trans actress Laverne Cox. Famous from the Netflix show; "Orange Is The New Black."

So alongside the heavy inspiration of Hard Candy. Promising Young Women is trying to reference the tension between Feminists and Trans Rights activists.

Not that it actually contributes anything to that, or any other debate. Before rattling off into the next set of references.

So it fell to the Academy to take pity.

Promising Young Woman's writer and director Emerald Fennel enjoyed a high profile during the ceremony. Ironically being awarded Best Original Screenplay.

Not because she deserved it. There is nothing original about her work.

She was pulled up on stage simply because she was heavily and visibly pregnant.

That one thing Trans women just can't do. 

 

Part 5 to follow.

16:00 on 7/5/21 (UK date).