Very Good Girls Review
RYAN: This is a new coming of age drama from first time director Naomi Foner, who happens to be mother of Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal. She also write the screenplay and has previously been Oscar nominated for screenwriting, in 1988 for Running on Empty.
CAROLINE: Oh with River Phoenix? Interesting. So how did she do as a director?
RYAN: Quite well actually – especially in her work with the actors. It’s a great ensemble cast and she really brought some nuances out of Dakota fanning, especially.
CAROLINE: Yeah we’ve given her a hard time over the years. It’s not a very easy transition from child actor in Hollywood.
RYAN: This is my favorite performance of hers. It’s true we’ve not always enjoyed her and we could really argue we’ve seen her grow up as a person and as an actress on screen but this is the movie where she’s most natural and real and just really owning all of her power as a performer. She has a real solid grasp of character on screen in this film and conveys so much without speaking. She flushes with emotion and her eyes are more expressive. She’s really impressive in this movie.
CAROLINE: That’s awesome. I’m glad of it. What about Elizabeth Olsen?
RYAN: She’s good too. She’s an acclaimed actress and good in this. What I especially liked about her in this film is that she comes across more girlish and young and fresh than she has in previous films. At a young age, she’s already illustrated much depth in her range and she has a lot to deal with in this film but is a lot lighter and cuter than we’ve seen her before. She actually kinda looks like a young Annette Benning at times – it’s interesting.
CAROLINE: Nice. There’s also a really decent supporting cast. You have Demi Moore, Richard Dreyfuss, Ellen Barkin…
RYAN: Right. So good. They don’t have very large parts but are all such great forces that it’s cool seeing them.
CAROLINE: So it’s a comping of age story?
RYAN: Yes. It’s a real slice of life of these characters, the summer before going off to college and it covers so much ground, emotionally. Coming of age, certainly, but the themes are real suburban drama. Some families appear perfect on the outside, but what goes on bend closed doors, you’d never know. It deals with relationships, trust, monogamy.
CAROLINE: That does sound like good drama.
RYAN: The movie doesn’t shy away from going the distance in the story. It brilliantly handles an awkward, unsettling and cinematic love triangle.
CAROLINE: Any weak link?
RYAN: The score. I like the soundtrack but the scoring is a little off-putting at moments.
CAROLINE: Fair enough.
RYAN: I really enjoyed this film. It’s not often we see a story really showcase young female talent like this and it’s a winning culmination of script, talent, and direction.
