A work of art

Rating: 8/10 (19 January 2018)

I really liked this movie from a visual standpoint. The cinematography is gorgeous, the hand-held shots put us in the same frame of mind as the main character Mother, without breaking your immersion or becoming too nauseating, like in the first "Hunger Games". This in turns helps you to connect with and understand Mother, how she feels, what she's going through, all because the camera shows us; the direct result of this, is that we can empathise with her and thus care where the plot is going, which is any director's dream.
On top of that you have Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem bringing in a pair of excellent performances, alongside a string of supporting actors, who are able to hold their own too. The acting coupled with the dialogue, really enriches the story, where every expression and word has meaning if you look hard enough and are familiar with the source material.
I really liked the plot. The movie is essentially a culmination of different events in The Bible from beginning to end, put within a modern context, told through the perspective of a character we wouldn't expect, through the lens of a director, who just so happens to be an atheist; if that won't get you so see the movie then I don't know what will.
The movie has something to say behind it. It raises awareness and questions on the nature of humanity, how we treat the planet, as well as God and if he's real, what part he has to play in all of this; how complicit is he?
This move will no doubt stir up some religious and non-religious folks, with the representation of God and humanity as a whole, which I, personally, find accurate and aligns with some of my own views.
One thing to take into account is that The Bible, just like any other book or work of art, will speak to everyone differently, because no two people are the same. So I would say going in, view "Mother!" as a representation of the director's interpretation of The Bible and what it means to him. It may not align with your own and the general Christian populace's viewpoint, but that's what makes it intriguing; it's unique and different.
Aside from the visual aspects, the plot and the themes, I really loved the movie sound-wise too. I loved the house, which is the setting for the movie and interestingly, is the basis for the soundtrack and all that could be heard on-screen throughout the movie, was the creaks and cracks as the characters make their way around the wooden house. This added a sense of a naturalistic and/or organic environment, which supported the material even more, considering that the house is essentially a symbol for Earth.
In closing: Yes this movie is controversial, I understand why people love it, I understand why people hate it; people's opinions are completely polarised. But that's a good thing, movies should have conversation and controversy around them, it keeps everything fun, fresh and exciting. I'd rather see a movie that steps out and isn't afraid to try something different, even if it means less critical and commercial success, rather than something that takes a step back and stays in a box, never trying something new, playing it safe, pandering to what the audiences want, or what they think they want.
"Mother!" takes a step forward; it's unique and interesting and it features a different take on the stories found within The Bible and it also has a social commentary on the modern world interwoven throughout, projecting all the issues in which we face. The movie is excels in directing, in the script, as well as the acting. Overall I'd give this movie a 8/10.