What it's like to go insane

Rating: 7/10 (6 September 2018)

Mother!:
Written and directed by Darren Aronofsky
I am a big fan of Darren Aronofsky's work. I love The Wrestler and I was moved by The Fountain and was blown away by Pi. I was excited to see this movie on that basis alone. I wanted to venture into the movie theater to experience it but I was unable to. I had to wait. During the waiting period, I got a plethora of thought pieces and opinions on the movie. The director himself even went out there and explained everything that this story symbolized. I really wish that I hadn't known this. I almost wanted to come into this film cold. I might have been better able to grasp onto the story better from the beginning. It allows me to know what to look for when you first get into this movie. It gives you very little to go on in the beginning and that is a necessary thing. This movie feels like you're going insane along with the Jennifer Lawrence's character.
The main thing to understand is that this movie is designed to be experienced but not necessarily thought over. The camera is fluid and stays with Jennifer Lawrence the entire time. You experience these events through her eyes. It is utterly confusing and eventually becomes insane and horrifying. You can't take your eyes off of it. This movie starts off as a sweet drama between a husband and wife. The wife wants nothing more than to spend time with her husband and fix up their idyllic house in the woods. The husband on the other hand wants to write and create and bask in adoration. This takes on a life of its own as her husband ignores her and the chaos that begins to ensue around them. The house starts to fall apart and you are led into madness as the house starts to tear itself apart.
It does take some getting used to in the beginning. If you don't want to allow this film to wash over you and roll with the punches it appears to be sharing, you will find things to pick apart as this is not a traditional narrative. You don't learn anything about the characters other than the basics needed because it's not necessary for things to work. They wash over you and pull you along. The confusion is part of the process. When her world goes to hell, you're experiencing it right along with her.
As far as performances go, everyone is fine. They're given cyphers to play and we imbue what we want to with him. Jennifer Lawrence is very meek and mild in the beginning but eventually the hidden rage comes out. This movie is a genuine mindtrip. I'm not sure I can watch it again. I don't think I would get much out of it in that regard. I can recommend it but my recommendation comes with stipulations. You have to be okay with a movie being something you flow with. Be prepared to be confused and be okay with that. Give it time and it works its magic. I give this movie a B.