CelineSong – Credits Rolling

From writer and director Celine Song comes an unconventional take on dating in the modern world. Lucy (Dakota Johnson) is a high end matchmaker who just witnessed her ninth couple getting married. At said wedding she meets the incredibly handsome and filthy rich Harry (Pedro Pascal) who is instantly smitten with her. But at the same wedding Lucy also runs into her ex boyfriend, struggling actor John (Chris Evans), and realizes that there is still a spark between them. Now she has to make an impossible choice.

If you are going into this film expecting a cute romcom, you would be mistaken. Instead what Song has given us is something so much more than that. The dating scene has changed over the years, especially with the influence of social media, and this was an interesting take on just how materialistic we’ve all become as a result.

The casting of our three leads was perfect. I could not imagine anybody else playing these characters except for Johnson, Pascal and Evans. Together they had real, organic chemistry and it was hard for me to determine who I wanted Lucy to be with more. On their own, they each portrayed a stereotype of people at different stages of their lives: Lucy at a crossroads of what she truly wants and what stage of life she thinks she should be at, Harry with an established career and stunning apartment and John dreaming of becoming an actor while living with two roommates and struggling to make ends meet.

While there was plenty of romance and some moments that had my theatre laughing out loud, there were some other themes woven throughout that I really appreciated. Self-worth, value and materialism are at the forefront and they really had me reflecting on not only personal experiences I have had in the past, but also those of my friends who are still dealing with similar situations every single day. It also illustrated the less glamorous side of dating such as individuals only wanting a certain age bracket or skin color as well as what could happen when a date takes a turn for the worst.

Materialists was one of the films that I was most excited for this summer. I was a big fan of Song’s debut Past Lives and couldn’t wait to see what she was going to do next, not to mention the fact that this cast was an absolute dream. I’ll admit that the marketing may be misleading, but I actually think I enjoyed the film much more because I went into it thinking it would be one thing and I ended up getting so much more out of it.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

Spanning over twenty years, Nora (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo) are childhood friends who lost touch when Nora’s family immigrated from South Korea to Canada. He eventually finds her on social media, though their reunion is short lived. Fast forward through time yet again and Hae Sung finally makes his way to New York City, where Nora is working as a playwright and married to her American husband Arthur (John Magaro). One week together is all it takes for them to be reminded of those feelings they’d long since buried.

Ever since its premiere at Sundance earlier this year, Past Lives has been getting all sorts of buzz. With talk of Celine Song absolutely acing her directorial debut and the phenomenal performances of our leads, I knew this was a title I had to add to my list.

This movie absolutely ruined me. It was so simple yet it spoke volumes. Experiencing Nora and Hae Sung’s relationship as it evolved was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. I’m sure we’ve all had that one friend who moved away when we were younger. How we thought about them when they were gone and what could have been if they were still around. And while this film is helmed as a love story, it is also so much more than that.

While the actors do what they need to do, they do it so perfectly, conveying each emotion and sense of longing for what could have been. The chemistry between them is palpable and while you want them to be together, you also know that it’s impossible. I have to also give a special mention to Arthur. The way in which his character was written was superb. Instead of being jealous of his wife’s connection with another man, he’s there for her and lets her cry on his shoulder. My heart swelled with the way in which he dealt with the entire situation.

Past Lives is about the people we meet throughout our time on this earth. The people who leave an impact, no matter how long they may stay for. Embodying the themes of lost love, closure and found purpose, I was sat in tears during that final scene. This film is not to be missed!

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️