I love when movies generate a good discussion regardless of whether you enjoyed it fully or not, or if you agree (especially if you disagree, actually) with the people you watch the movie with. The One I Love is remarkable for this reason; it keeps the audience fully engaged through the whole movie and it will leave viewers with different interpretations and residual feelings depending on their own experiences.
I'm going to talk about the plot of this movie even less than I typically do, because The One I Love operates well largely on the hope that the audience goes into it knowing as little as possible. Even reviews and interviews with the cast and crew leading up to this movie's release came with a disclaimer that they weren't allowed to ask about the movie's plot or reference it at all. This is an intriguing and delicious approach in a world that's diluted with over-revealing trailers.
Director Charlie McDowell and Writer Justin Lader are both relative newcomers to the big screen, but they handle their material with a surprising honesty and at times uncomfortable understanding of life's curveballs and the everchanging spectra of how we view the ones we love, or the ones we thought we loved. There are vague moments of sparkling dialogue, but the movie really only stays afloat due to its actors. Elisabeth Moss and Mark Duplass play a couple who is struggling with the loss of the relationship's flame and who are recommended to go to a secluded vacation resort by their therapist to try thawing the ice in their marriage.
Moss makes the transition from the highly scripted Mad Men to the more loose flexible directing of McDowell with grace. However you feel about her character, Moss embodies her role with a gorgeous talent. In fact, Moss and Duplass work so well together, you almost wish the writing and the story would push the characters even farther.
I'm going to talk about the plot of this movie even less than I typically do, because The One I Love operates well largely on the hope that the audience goes into it knowing as little as possible. Even reviews and interviews with the cast and crew leading up to this movie's release came with a disclaimer that they weren't allowed to ask about the movie's plot or reference it at all. This is an intriguing and delicious approach in a world that's diluted with over-revealing trailers.
Director Charlie McDowell and Writer Justin Lader are both relative newcomers to the big screen, but they handle their material with a surprising honesty and at times uncomfortable understanding of life's curveballs and the everchanging spectra of how we view the ones we love, or the ones we thought we loved. There are vague moments of sparkling dialogue, but the movie really only stays afloat due to its actors. Elisabeth Moss and Mark Duplass play a couple who is struggling with the loss of the relationship's flame and who are recommended to go to a secluded vacation resort by their therapist to try thawing the ice in their marriage.
Moss makes the transition from the highly scripted Mad Men to the more loose flexible directing of McDowell with grace. However you feel about her character, Moss embodies her role with a gorgeous talent. In fact, Moss and Duplass work so well together, you almost wish the writing and the story would push the characters even farther.
I actually didn't like this movie all too much, but I appreciate how unsettled it made me feel. I hope readers will excuse the connection, but the movie made me feel like watching 500 Days of Summer. The concept was there, the acting was solid, and it definitely throws in some morsels to chew over, but overall I was left wanting more than just a twist to the romantic comedic genre. Kudos though to upping the discomfort ante with the expertly handled soundtrack and genre-bending moments that made me tense and wonder what in the world was going to happen next.
If you watch it, I'd be interested to hear what you have to say though. The One I Love is a fascinating look at how we idealize those we love before we know them fully or at how we may long too much for that 2-dimensional partner of the past. It's also a reflection of whether the idea of a relationship means more than the people in it and what it takes to see someone truly.
If you watch it, I'd be interested to hear what you have to say though. The One I Love is a fascinating look at how we idealize those we love before we know them fully or at how we may long too much for that 2-dimensional partner of the past. It's also a reflection of whether the idea of a relationship means more than the people in it and what it takes to see someone truly.