REVIEW: PIECES OF A WOMAN

 

5/5

Portrait Of A Lady On Fire. 

128 Mins. Starring: Vanessa Kirby, Shia LaBeouf, Molly Parker, Sarah Snook, Iliza Shlesinger, Benny Safdie, Jimmie Fails & Ellen Burstyn. Director: Kornél Mundruczó.   

Before we begin, let's get straight to the problem at hand here. Shia LaBeouf. Already beginning this article addressing the biggest issue feels like the wrong thing to do for 'Pieces Of A Woman'. As in, giving Shia first exposure on a piece that's far more than him. And that's the point. Something that's far more than him. But we must talk about this. Especially if all the allegations made by FKA Twigs, Sia and more are true. It's best to get it out the way now and it's just something we can't ignore. Sure the very talented actor who we have been now regrettably praising for years before we knew all this that has come to light delivers a brutal but brilliant performance that otherwise would be perfection. Arm in arm from the bathtub to the winter hat on the dashboard. But that's not the point. And the uncomfortable scenes he acts in during this movie are now frankly unbearable in light of recent times. Even that though has nothing to do with real life and what he's been accused of doing. That's much worse. And it doesn't serve this movie or the depth of his characters development in any way. We claim heartless bullshit to anyone who would callously claim that (some would). Just like those who would use his angry acting against him in a court of law. That's not justified either. Remember a real actor acts. And a real man treats women right...always. If the abuse claimed against him is as true as it sadly sounds, conviction or not he deserves no more words of praise. He deserves to be scrubbed from all promotional pieces like Netflix have done. And that's just the beginning. So for disclaimer reasons we will stop that right here as we await his fair trial and day in court. If it gets that far...which it should, so justice can be served. But you best believe woman or give what's being said the time of day, even if you're a fan who supports him or not. We won't talk like we have about him again and we won't speak on his performances any more until we hear the real truth. We'd love for this to be not true, but because we wish this abuse never happened to these women. Still, we don't live in an idealistic world anymore where everything will be alright. We don't listen to Ryan Adams anymore. We stopped watching 'House Of Cards'. For a reason. The same reason you should probably really worry about 'The Godfather'. Or the cover of your favourite Miles Davis record. But I remember an Empire article about 'House Of Cards' that said others shouldn't suffer because of Spacey. Even before Robin Wright took over as President for the Spacey-less final season, her image in Lincoln's marble throne instead of Frank Underwood a striking one on Netflix. It argued that 'House Of Cards' was stacked with the work of so many other members of cast and crew that what they've produced shouldn't be diminished because of one bad man. Unfortunately when looking at the falling cards that became this former hit show, it's just too hard to watch when the main character is the man in question and one so abhorrent in character too. Art this time has imitated life. But here the 'Pieces Of A Woman' belong to the lead, director and rest of the ensemble cast that make this movie a five star affair ready for award season. Shia should be shamed if guilty. The rest of the 'Pieces' here are innocent and don't deserve the same dismissal. They don't have to answer for Shia LaBeouf's alleged crimes. Only he does. What do they have to answer for? Just the wonderful work they've done. So here's to it.

Scorsese scores as executive producer to the American/Canadian production based on a stageplay of the same name by Kornél Mundruczó and Kata Wéber. Montreal made to look like Manhattan. Mundruczó serving as director and Wéber writer here, building bridges that book-end cinematic chapters like seasonal set designs. But please give Vanessa Kirby her flowers. Throw them to the stage with the same urgency you do rocks at the leading man's throne here. Because it was never his throne. It was always Princess Margaret's. And it's time for 'The Crown' stars coronation. Watch her wave to the rave reviews that is a long time coming wait and weight worthy of a jubilee of gold...Oscar gold. Vanessa Kirby gives a powerhouse performance of excruciating pain and gathering resolve. Emotional, physical and incredible. From falling into the tub, to climbing the apple tree, this one slips and sticks with you through all the overflowing pain and branches of the family tree. Vanessa Kirby doesn't grow here, more she was already this amazing an actor. Now her talent is just in bloom. You saw her steal the show from movie men in big blockbusters like Tom Cruise's 'Mission: Impossible - Fallout' or the 'Fast and Furious' spin-off 'Hobbs and Shaw' starring Dwyane 'The Rock' Johnson and Jason Statham...not to mention cameos we can now spoil from Kevin Hart and Ryan Reynolds. She almost stole 'The Crown' too in a portrait episode with a handsome London photographer on the back of a classic bike, motoring into the Big Smoke night. Here, however she shows you all the 'Pieces Of A Woman'. Channeling the bruised and made up foundation of fellow great Brit, Sienna Miller's loneliness in London's West End mirror asking "who are you". Lost but finding new ways to redefine Elizabeth Taylor's role in Tennessee Williams' 'Cat On A Hot Tin Roof'. Fragmenting like shattered glass and all the nuance of Kirby's character built and destroyed through struggle. And all the parts that make us whole, who we are, who we thought we were, who we think we will be and whole once again. If this staged portrait of a woman is a perplexed punctuation of all the emotions we go through in our darkest hours and tragic times, then Kirby underlines and scores it perfectly like its lonely 'Ghost Story' like soundtrack and score by Howard Shore. Grieving in dark rooms hasn't been done this hauntingly well since Rooney Mara sat down on the kitchen floor with a fork. Just done. 

Justice will be found like the real truth here in a film that handles a home pregnancy turned into tragedy with as much respect and dignity as it does real and raw moments that will stay with you like the scenes from a nightmare. Because this is every families worst one. Calling the midwife of amazing 'Road' actress Molly Parker (speaking of other 'House Of Cards' standout talents) shows us just how well the direction of 'Johanna' and Hungary's finest Mundruczó with the hunger for the cinematic can mess with our emotions. The genuinely affecting, but somewhat off-putting character Parker portrays will leave you thinking, "is this her fault"? And that's thanks to the genius level of skill Molly makes as an actor. The real genius cast is that of Netflix hit comedian Iliza Shlesinger though, who was the funniest thing about Mark Wahlberg's Netflix franchise 'Spenser Confidential' last year. As Kirby's sister it's uncanny how much she looks like her and then as you double-take, Vanessa right back to you like her. "And the best Casting Director of the year goes too". Also Iliza's inspired dramatic turn even in passing moments is even more mic drop convincing than Amy Schumer's...and we aren't taking about the terrific 'Trainwreck' comedy with Bill Hader and Lakers basketball star LeBron James. Look it up people. 'Thank You For Your Service'. Now how about the real spanner in the works the legal advice of family attorney Sarah Snook throws...especially when it gets personal? They say never mix family and business, but what about family and law?When it comes to legal matters, people always take it like an M.J. 'Last Dance'. Personally. The 'Steve Jobs' and 'Predestination' actress knows how to steal the show from men like Michael Fassbender and Ethan Hawke. So this boy should be no problem. Add one half of last years best director brotherhood like an 'Uncut Gem' in Benny Safdie and it's always a 'Good Time' like Robert Pattinson. Whereas adding 'The Last Black Man In San Francisco' of Jimmie Fails never does like his second name unless he's criminally underused like he is here. Someone who isn't and should be on the Oscar quest of her own award tour is the triple crown winner of Ellen Burstyn about to take the throne again like the Queen Mother. Emmy. Tony. Now how about another Oscar Ellen? No, not you talk show host! Burstyn is bursting with forever young talent and a repressed rage which shows itself in barely restrained passion, simmering and wrinkling like boiled kettles and creased paper...and wait until you really find out why. You recognise the mothers fear in those eyes? The President of The Actors Equity is about to inherit her own. When it comes to 'The Last Picture Show' actress working on a dream like 'Requiem', the only thing more haunting than 'The Exorcist' Best Actress nominated icon is the one-shot for a half hour (more terrifying than the time McConaughey tried to green light his way out the 'hood on' True Detective') that begins this piece of a woman's heart before the opening credits even start. As the camera turns like the knots in your stomach and their whole world. There's a moment of calm in the whirlpool of a bathtub before the inevitable storm we feel coming in this Winters air. It's a poignant and powerful one, bathed in a young couples compelling beauty before all the brutality. Kirby's arm hangs out the tub from a Hitchcock point of view. Light splashes of water, moans and an atmospheric score coming into play reverberates over the tiles in a numbing haze. Hand on head, running her fingers through her hair as she looks to the heavens. Breathing through her closed lips as she reaches out again and looks away. There he is. Her partner. He pulls himself close. She helps him over with the back of his hair. He holds the back of her head too. "Breathe baby, you're doing good," he reassures. "This is so bad", she tells him before closing her eyes, sinking into her arm and almost the tub as he lifts her back up slightly. Their foreheads and Eskimos meet as they draw each other in and hold each other over the porcelain threshold. They whisper sweet everything's to each other, nod affirmations. He rubs her shoulder blade with his thumb. She looks to the heavens again in a haze. He helps her back into the tub. They kiss slightly. She holds his beard and looks up to him with that longingly, iconic shot on your Netflix tile. She looks past him. The midwife comes back in. Just two unadulterated minutes of peace and love, before all this hurt and pain that has come after. But no matter what in a movie so beautiful, marred by real world brutality. The 'Pieces Of A Woman' will always be put back together by her own strength. No matter what a man does. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Malcolm & Marie', 'A Ghost Story', 'Marriage Story'.