By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3 cats
Director: Susan Johnson
Starring: Andy Bustillos | Bel Powley | Desmin Borges | Gabriel Byrne | Vanessa Bayer
Country: united_states
Year: 2016
Running time: 98
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2989524/
Brett says: “If anyone hasn’t gotten the memo, Bel Powley is an extremely captivating performer on screen. In the coming-of-age film CARRIE PILBY, Powley sets the tone from the very first shot with casual, subdued mannerisms that make all the difference in necessary characterization for a role such as this. The title character is an academic prodigy already a graduate from Harvard, now at the age of 19, and struggling to find her place in New York City. The challenge in the role was for Powley to portray someone who is misunderstood yet relatable, off-putting yet likeable, and dogmatic yet philosophically vulnerable. Her higher moral authority is essential to the character as she mingles with characters who try to pull her into the vacuum of a very flawed social strata that has simply been accepted and not challenged enough.
“Many films scream at the audience to pity or sympathize with a main character like this. For some, there are moments that might cross that threshold, but within the confines of the script to which she was bound, Powley navigates the character from going too far in reaching out to the audience despite some scenes that seem to borderline pander if one were to read strictly from the screenplay. Perhaps the greatest measure for this skill is comparing her role and performance against that of Vanessa Bayer and Desmin Borges in the roles of Tara, a party-hungry member of a law firm, and Douglas, an oddball assistant at the firm, respectively. Both actors adequately fulfill the characters they were given, but again, there is a stunningly likable aspect to Powley’s work that doesn’t submit to a few script inadequacies and ‘hammy’ aspects visible (however, not altogether dominant) in other characters.
“On the subject of the plot premise itself, there is a balance between borderline genius at times and a script that takes a few too many leaps. What keeps the film from reaching the necessary level to become an all-time great in the coming-of-age genre is a reliance on too many conventional plot tropes that are glaringly obvious audience traps.
“Now, that is not to say that there isn’t plenty to like about it. Despite the reliance on conventional writing at times, there is certainly a charm to this narrative that you will not find in other movies. Even if it does require the audience to stretch its suspension of disbelief a few too many times via perfect timely moments or cosmic coincidences, the story is still charming and appealing at its foundation.
“One consideration that might explain away the difficulties of maintaining a trope-less script is the fact that the book on which the film is based progresses through Carrie’s story by inserting the reader into her head. An adaptation decision–and the correct one–was to steer clear of voiceover to convey this introspective look. As such, compromises in the revelation of certain essential narrative components are forgivable if one is willing to consider this aspect of the film adaptation.
“All that said, for all that there is in CARRIE PILBY that you may have felt like you’ve seen before, there is a world of material that you haven’t. A young genius mingling in an adult world isn’t a new concept, but the presentation and deliveries are fresh and charming, a contemporary feel that will keep audience members engaged throughout the entire film. If anyone was a fan of DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL, this one can’t be missed, if only for a chance to indulge in the work of Bel Powley as lead actor once again. A *must* for fans of DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL. 3 cats.”