[...] practice: Woman of the Hour (2024)
Dir: Anna Kendrick[published 10/25/2024]
IN THESE ESSAYS, I REALLY DON'T WANT TO JUST GIVE YOU A BREAKDOWN OF THE MOVIE. YOU CAN DO THAT ON YOUR OWN.
WHAT I DO WHAT TO DO IS FIGURE OUT WHERE THE PSYCHOLOGY LIES. IT CAN BE IN A SPECIFIC CHARACTER, IN THE SETS, THE COLOR DESIGN, THE MUSIC.
ANY ASPECT OF A FILM CAN CONTAIN IT. MY GOAL IS TO FIND IT AND REPORT MY FINDINGS TO YOU.
BUT, BEFORE I GET INTO WHERE THE PSYCHOLOGY IS (OR ISN’T, AS THE CASE MAY BE) I WANT TO ADDRESS SOME MISC PRODUCTION NOTES THAT OCCURRED TO ME.
IN ANNA KENDRICK’S DIRECTORIAL DEBUT, WE ARE TOLD THE STORY OF THE SADISTIC SERIAL RAPIST AND KILLER RODENY ALCALA WHO’S CLAIM TO FAME AS FAR AS THIS MOVIE IS CONCERNED AND WHAT THE MEDIA LATCHED ON TO AT THE TIME THIS ALL HAPPENED, WAS GOING ON A DATING SHOW.
THEY USED THE DEVICE OF TIMELINE MIXING TO SHOW THE SERIAL KILLER’S PROGRESSION. HOWEVER, SINCE THE ACTOR LOOKS AND DRESSES EXACTLY THE SAME FROM ONE YEAR TO ANOTHER, WE REALLY CAN’T TELL WHEN WE ARE.
THE SHOTS OF THE ACTUAL KILLINGS ARE VERY CLOSE UP, ALMOST PORN-LIKE. WHILE THE SHOTS OF THE LANDSCAPES WHERE THE CRIMES TOOK PLACE ARE WIDE, LIKE THEY ARE A SILENT WITNESS.
ANNA KENDRICK IS STIFF AND NOT IN THE "I MEANT TO DO THAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT MY CHARACTER WANTED.” WAY SHE’S JUST NOT VERY GOOD.
THE BEST ACTING, HOWEVER, GOES TO THE COSTA RICAN DANIEL ZOVATTO OUTSHINING EVERYONE ELSE, INCLUDING TONY HALE.
AND, I DO THINK ANNA KENDRICK HAS QUITE THE FUTURE AS A DIRECTOR.
SO, WHERE IS THE PSYCHOLOGY FOUND IN THIS MOVIE? THE DATING SHOW PART OF THE STORY AND THEREFORE ANNA KENDRICK’S CHARACTER ARE A RED HERRING, THOUGH THEY TAKE UP ALMOST ALL OF THE MOVIE.
THE ONLY THING THIS ACCOMPLISHES IS TO DISTRACT US FROM THE HORROR THAT WAS RODNEY ALCALA AND THE ACTUAL MEAT OF THE STORY - WHICH IS THE WOMEN VICTIMS VS A SYSTEM THAT IGNORES THEM, AND THE EXTREME MISOGYNY OF THE 1970s (AND BEYOND, LET’S BE HONEST.)
THERE ARE TWO QUICK SCENES WHERE THEY KINDA OF ADDRESS THIS MEAT THAT I SPEAK OF. I WONDER IF YOU CAN SPOT THEM. SHOUT THEM OUT IN THE COMMENTS IF YOU THINK YOU KNOW. I’LL GIVE YOU A HINT THEY ARE BOTH IN THE FINAL ACT. NEVERTHELESS, THE WRITER CHOSE TO FOCUS ON THE MUCH GLAMORIZED TV SHOW INCIDENT. THUS, GIVING IN TO THE POPULAR APPETITE FOR FETISHIZING SERIAL KILLERS, RATHER THAN TELLING A DEEP AND MEANINGFUL STORY.
THE TITLE, HOWEVER, SUCCEEDS IN CONVEYING THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THIS STORY. ON THE SURFACE LEVEL, WOMAN OF THE HOUR SEEMS TO BE REFERRING TO THE WOMAN WHO WENT ON THE DATING SHOW AND SELECTED RODNEY, BUT ON A DEEPER LEVEL WOMAN OF THE HOUR IS REFERRING TO ALL OF THE WOMEN AND GIRLS THAT RODENY RAPED, TORTURED AND KILLED. EACH AS UNIMPORTANT AS THE NEXT ONLY AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO SATISIFY HIS SADISTIC CRAVINGS. SO EACH ONE WAS A WOMAN OF THE HOUR TO HIM.
OVERALL, THIS IS A DEAD MOVIE AND NOT BECAUSE IT HAS A SERIAL KILLER IN IT
AND GRATUITOUS KILLING SCENES. IT’S DEAD BECAUSE IT MISSES THE MARK ON THE TITLE IT PROMISES, BUT NEVER DELIVERS.