Kaya Scodelario
is making her move into the big leagues of Hollywood
filmmaking after establishing herself early on as a child actor in the British
television series, “Skins.” Following this film will be her big break in yet
another “teenager in danger in a dystopian future society” narrative based on a
young adult book franchise. Hopefully The
Maze Runner provides more opportunities for Scodelario than The Truth About Emanuel, otherwise her
career in Hollywood
The biggest
trouble with The Truth About Emanuel isn’t necessarily Scodelario, though
whether it is the way the character was written or how she played the role, I
never found myself feeling any connection to Emanuel. If nothing else, she just
appears to be a typical know-it-all naïve teenage girl. Her awkward stumbling
through life’s obstacles is expected, though made more unbearable by the
arrogance inserted into her character. But, as I said, this isn’t the largest
problem with the film. Worse than the characters or the actors who play them is
the plot of the film, which resembles a Lifetime movie with a bigger budget.
There is
something of a twist in the narrative, and though I sensed it coming long
before it was revealed, I will refrain from spoiling that surprise for any
readers still considering watching this film. Emanuel becomes friends with a
new neighbor (Jessica Biel), with clear intentions of using the young woman as
a replacement mother figure. Although she has a new step-mother who is eager to
fill the role for Emanuel, it is attention quickly and harshly rejected. There
is something of a coming-of-age story crammed into the melodrama which takes
over the narrative once revealed, including a love interest in a confused young
boy.
The Blu-ray
includes an interview with the director Francesca Gergorini, who seems to have
inserted fantasy sequences into the end of the film in a desperate attempt to
showcase talents outside of the strange melodrama. There are also deleted scenes,
outtakes and a trailer.
Entertainment Value:
3.5/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 4.5/10
Historical
Significance: 1/10
Special Features: 5.5/10
No comments:
Post a Comment