Aylmer to Zazzoo and Beyond: Francis Ha

Friday, July 5, 2013

Francis Ha - Review

Francis Ha
(2013 - June 30)
Comedy | Drama
1 hr. 26 min.
Rated: R Language and graphic sexual references
Grade: D+

Director: Noah Baumbach
Writers: Noah Baumbach (screenplay), Greta Gerwig (screenplay)
Stars: Greta Gerwig, Mickey Sumner, Adam Driver | See full cast and crew

A story that follows a New York woman (who doesn't really have an apartment), apprentices for a dance company (though she's not really a dancer), and throws herself headlong into her dreams, even as their possible reality dwindles. Frances wants so much more than she has but lives her life with unaccountable joy and lightness. "Frances Ha" is a modern fable in which Noah Baumbach ("The Squid and the Whale," "Greenberg") explores New York, friendship, class, ambition, failure, and redemption.

Francis Ha is filmed in black and white, which is not the problem, it's not really the acting either, it's the content and the story and consequently the writing and direction. It is supposedly the fun and interesting adventures of Francis (Greta Gerwig) in New York City along with her friends Sophie (Mickey Sumner - daughter of Sting), Lev (Adam Driver), Dan (Michael Esper) and Benji (Michael Zegan), unfortunately it is neither fun nor interesting.

This film is so tedious and annoying, it's like attending a Manhattan or Hollywood party full of actors, dancers, singers and artists, Lord have Mercy, I could barely sit through it. People like Francis and her friends are one great factors in why I had to get out of New York City. Self absorbed, talent free, amoral, egotistical fools with the belief that just because they live in New York City they are important. I ran in to sooo many of these pretentious, Francophile, unremarkable, unattractive, fun-free, counter-amusing, Bohemian, societal leeches...it's enough to make your eyes and ears bleed. Why on earth would anyone want to voulentarily ride along on this 'slice of life' misadventure. If I were say any more I might tell you just how I really feel. This film is far from worth the time. Of course they loved it at Sundance....that alone says volumes.