MOVIE TITLE: Rebecca
Available now on Netflix
RATING: PG-13
LENGTH: 2 hours, 1 minute
Movie Review Mom GRADE: C
IN A NUTSHELL:
This movie had me at Lily James. I just adore her. I fell in love with her when I saw her for the first time in the Disney live-action remake of Cinderella (2015) (Theatrical)
In other words, this new version directed by Ben Wheatley had very big shoes to fill. It’s a melodrama that blends mystery, romance, with a creepy touch. Believe it or not, the novel was actually turned into a famous European musical. I’d love to hear if you’ve seen it!
If you love the story, you might want to read the book!
TIPS FOR PARENTS:
- Most kids will be bored.
- Some profanity
- Some partial nudity/skin
THEMES:
- Love, relationships. True love vs. loving for advantage.
- Fitting in
- Marriage
- Competition
- Communication
- Truth
THINGS I LIKED:
- Beautiful cinematography. My dream job now is to be a location scout for a gorgeous film.
- You already know how much I love Lily James, so it’s no surprise that I thought she was really great in this. Armie Hammer never disappoints. He’s such a likable actor and I’ve always enjoyed his roles too.
- Kristen Scott Thomas was perfect in this. This is the kind of drama where she really shines. I think the first time I really noticed her was in the 1996 film The English Patient
where she was stunning.
- Manderley will remind you of the British mansion Downton Abbey
, which is appropriate since Lily James actually starred in that popular BBC television show.
- The color palettes change and speak to the contrasting parts of the story. Act 1 is fresh and bright with happy, stylish colors. Acts 2 and 3 are muted and dark once the mystery and creepy vibes take hold of the story.
- Lily James and Armie Hammer have great chemistry together.
- I like the theme of truth and how the audience’s perspective changes when more information about certain characters is revealed.
- The very last image was intriguing and alarming, making me wonder about the many layers of this story.
- The tension increases after Act 1, forcing you to keep watching the film to find out what’s going on.
where she was stunning.
, which is appropriate since Lily James actually starred in that popular BBC television show.
THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:
- Lily James’ character shifts dramatically throughout the entire movie. There is character growth which accounts for some of the shifts, but the uneven tone is a problem. For example, she is completely devoted to her husband, but in Act 3, she seems more driven to beat the ghostly presence of Rebecca than to helping her husband.
- The tone of Act 1 is completely different from Act 2 & Act 3.
- It’s very melodramatic.
- The trailer promised mystery and something spooky, hinting at an evil ghost. It was creepy but the actual resolution was disappointing.
- Mrs. Danvers’ background is kept a mystery in Alfred Hitchcock’s version of the movie. In this movie, we learn about a rather boring, warped background of this lady. Sadly, Mrs. Danvers’ big moment in Hitchcock’s movie was completely deleted in this version.
- The aspect of sleep-walking was a new part of the story that went nowhere.
- Some things were added to this new version for apparently no reason, really.
- There was some exposition, as well as editing that jumped around and made me wonder if they rushed the post-production.
- In the end, I was disappointed. I had stayed up way past my bedtime to watch this and kind of wished I had just gone to bed sooner.
OTHER MOVIES LIKE THIS YOU MIGHT ENJOY:
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