REVIEW: DON'T WORRY DARLING

4/5

Florence + The Machine.

123 Mins. Starring: Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, Olivia Wilde, Gemma Chan, KiKi Layne, Nick Kroll & Chris Pine. Director: Olivia Wilde. 

Pleasantville in black and white. That's the safe as suburbia seeming setting that bookends 'Booksmart' director Olivia Wilde's latest movie, only shy of a white picket fence. You know the movie I mean, the one everyone has talked about this year. One of the biggest and best pictures looking for Oscar prestige from the Academy following Wilde's crazy comedy debut (not to mention the 'Dark Necessities' of a storm drain skating Red Hot Chili Peppers video where she really left her mark like bumps and bruises). Finally, here in the Far East of Japan. But 'Don't Worry Darling', I won't talk about the controversy. Spit at me or not, all you like. Because all that has overshadowed a mesmerizing movie which most have called middling. Is that fair? 

No! Just like it's not fair what happened to Olivia Wilde on stage this year. Just like it's not fair that public sympathy turned into outcry like she was the devil after all the Hollywood on-set drama came out. As social media rolls like a stone. OK, I guess we will talk about it a little. But that's it. We don't know all the behind the scenes going on, and neither do you. Speculate about this movies story, not the narrative surrounding it. Because this criminally underrated psychological drama has so much more to say. From the evil men do, to emancipation and power of the women, that moves like Me Too eternal. To reveal more would be to spoil the story and satirical hooks slung, whilst everyone else is trying to get their dirty fingernails into some other person's business. Time to air your own dirty laundry. That s### stinks too. 

Compellingly cinematic and score soaring in its fever dream, American nightmare. 'Darling' confirms what 'Booksmart' read us all about. Wilde is one of this generation's best directors making her stance, let alone actors. We just worry that this social media shame where Twitter plays out like 'Game Of Thrones' will troll take its toll. Besides, she's a human being. We can't wait to see what she comes up with next behind the lens. Not what the paps come up with in front of theirs. She plays an integral part to this on camera drama too in this throwback testament that leg kicks to old Hollywood and the homes of those loving like stars in their own middle of the day Mimosa mix on the American dream. 

Pugilist pulling no punches, on-screen or off, it's 'Lady Macbeth' and 'Black Widow' superstar Florence Pugh who tour de force strikes like a Thunderbolt, Ross (rest peacefully William Hurt. Welcome to the fold, Harrison Ford). Living in her own 'Midsommar' hell in what looks like the middle of the day burning of just another sunny day, she cracks the egg on the performance of her career. Confirming her after her Swedish exchange as one of the best in the business. Again, why does it have to be marred by something that has nothing to do with us?

Coca-Cola Americana nostalgia fizzes and pops on the outside of a town that feels like it's regulated under a Stephen King dome. Biplane crash like King Kong threw them, and earthquakes rumble like something nuclear like Godzilla is being tested in the desert that surrounds (I spelt traps wrong) them. But it's a much bigger monster. One that will subtlety consume everything in its one-way, trolley-car path. With one of the best albums of the year ('Harry's House') and 'My Policeman' in the movie-box, Harry Styles (replacing a disgraced, talented but troubled Shia LaBeouf) is ready for one close-up of a Hollywood direction following his impressive 'Dunkirk' breakout and a Marvel movie credits cameo (we'll never say which one, darling). He's incredible here. 

As is a slimy as his lap, Chris Pine. Playing snake-oil to an old Hollywood charm, looking like he's going to get away with it. But despite an underused but undeniable Gemma Chan, it's a serious Nick Kroll and the critical delivery service of 'If Beale Street Could Talk' Star KiKi Layne who add more depth to what on the surface looks like a shallow story. Darling, don't pay attention to the social media sensation that like Twitter is for the birds, worry about one of the best movies you've seen in these times that are starving for originality like it is integrity. Don't be a company man just for victory. When it comes to this 'Stepford Wives' story that follows and waves goodbye to a sheep herd of crowded cars, carriage chugging along, like Jordan Peele, it's time to get out...and see it for yourself. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Booksmart', 'Midsommar', 'Pleasantville'.