Priscilla

She’s back, baby. If you had any doubts they are washed away quickly when the film starts with Baby, I Love You cover by the Ramones (underrated album by the Ramones). Works as a guiding light for how the rest of the film is going to unfold. This cool but all so syrupy mess about wanting someone to love you so bad. Manages to capture the loneliness of relationships through color palette and room decor alone. The unbearable dread of being swept up into someone else’s life and losing your own.

stuck inside, immobile, with the Memphis blues again

Pacing issues strike the last act, but otherwise this is a great fairy-tale-turned-nightmare. A hazy, ruefully nostalgic portrait of young love distorted by fame, unchecked power, and toxic masculinity. Totally believable. The two leads give spot-on performances. The scene where Priscilla stops to carefully apply her fake eyelashes after her water’s broken may be the top moment for me in a film this year.

I really like Cailee Spaeny, but she is deserving of a much better movie. Priscilla is just so listless and underwritten. The costumes are gorgeous, and I like what Sofia Coppola is trying to do stylistically with some of the visuals and anachronistic music, but realistically the audience can only take so many shots of Priscilla just sitting there looking board. I get that it's intentional to create a very specific mood and perspective, but it just doesn't make for a very entertaining movie.

Very smartly observed. Sofia Coppola captures the blush of new romance, but also the banality of the relationship’s inevitable toxicity. Elordi completely finds that balance of alluring fantasy and icky manipulator.