A technical accomplishment with Dunkirk-levels of ambition and scale

Rating: 10/10 (17 September 2017)

I'M NOT HERE TO REVIEW THE STORY. I suspect conversations and debates surrounding the story of Mother! will be going on for a very long time so I won't add anything to these discussions as this is one of those abstract films that can be subjected to numerous interpretations and no two individuals will have the same reading of it. What I will talk about it are the technical achievements of the movie, which is so mind-blowing it alone is worth the price of admission.
Purely on a technical level, Mother! was an impressive feat. Having not seen any of the trailers I was under the impression that this was going to be a small indie movie set in a single location (a house). And it certainly begins that way, lulling you with its slow-burn pace and the intimacy of its humble premise. But there is a joy in completely surrendering your expectations and preconceived notions of how good a movie is into the hands of a masterful filmmaker and just going along for the ride, trusting that the director knows exactly what he is doing. Because where the movie goes particularly in the 3rd act is absolutely insane, crazy, ambitious and filled with the kind of imagery that rivals some of the best set pieces of some of the biggest blockbusters we've seen this year. It redefines what we think about single-location movies - that a single location isn't bound by limited space and with great writing and smart tension-building you can craft an excellent big-budget set piece in a small place.
The sound design and foley work in particular are top-notch. The cinematography is also excellent, with the camera deliberately closed-in on Jennifer Lawrence's face in every scene as the narrative unfolds from her POV, its movements increasingly more erratic as the suspense escalates. Geography of the house is well-established so you always know exactly where you are when things go crazy. As for Jennifer Lawrence herself, this is one of the most un-Jennifer-Lawrence-roles she has ever played. She's very grounded, understated and restrained throughout the film, making all the scenes where she demonstrates her Oscar-winning acting chops all the more shocking, impactful and affecting. This restraint is prevalent in almost every aspect of the film. It never reveals more than it should or overplays its hand unnecessarily. The storytelling and editing is tightly focused and disciplined, as not a single minute of film is wasted. Every plot thread introduced is paid-off. At every turn, the movie under-promises and over-delivers, every shift in tone (did I mention Mother! is also darkly funny?) and surprising revelation a desired and crescendoed effect.
There's a lot of talks and conversations being devoted towards the layers of meaning and symbolism embedded within the story of Mother!. Is the movie an allegory for the bible, environmentalism, the creative process and its pitfalls or Hollywood celebrity/ fame- worship? Or is it an honest but painful artistic depiction of Darren Aronofsky's own personal love-life? Regardless of your interpretation, there will be one universal reaction - WTF did I just watch? Half of us will defend, champion and marvel at the viciously thought-provoking choices of the film (myself included), while the other half will hate the movie and declare it a piece of trash and a waste of time. I won't begrudge the latter for arriving at that conclusion, because it's not for everyone. But for those who want to experience a film that's unlike anything you've ever seen and executes its bold, daring and uncompromising vision with such amazing production values, then you at least owe it to yourself to give this movie a chance and decide if you'll hate it or love it. Because this is going to be the most talked-about movie of the year and it deserves to have you be a part of that conversation.