Review: Greta
I'll be right back!
Frankie (Chloe Grace Moretz) is a young woman in NYC who finds a lost purse on the subway. She returns it to its owner, Greta (Isabelle Huppert) and the two form a friendship. Frankie's roommate Erica (Maika Monroe) points out how strange the relationship is and soon after Frankie finds a bunch of fake purses and realizes this friendship isn't an innocent as it seems, and Greta is not going to let her go so easily.
If you're looking at this movie from a camp perspective, it's great. You get to watch Isabelle Huppert play piano, dance around, drug people and act crazy. That alone is worth the price of admission. But if you're going in looking for a serious thriller you're going to be disappointed because all the characters here are remarkably stupid. The plot needs them to be. It's mostly easy to ignore until the final 15 minutes or so.
Huppert is great, Moretz acting wise was good too but I think she was slightly miscast in the fact that physically, she looks like she could hold off Huppert if she wanted to. While I can buy the meek attitude the movie goes to great lengths to get around that fact. They also ask you to believe that the NYPD are pretty incompetent, and that even though a woman could be arrested for an altercation with a victim in front of many people that could identify her, that they would still need to hire a private investigator to find her, and that the police wouldn't immediately go to her door. It's The Walking Dead level plot devices.
It's dumb fun, go into this movie looking for dumb fun and you'll enjoy it.
Recommended: Yes (for that reason)
Grade: C+
Memorable Quote: "You've practically adopted this woman." - Eric (Maika Monroe)
I've been hearing only bad things about this, which is too bad, for both Chloe Moretz and Isabelle Huppert (but I don't think she cares anymore, at this point in her career). I probably won't see it
ReplyDeleteOh yes, Isabelle gives zero fucks lol
DeleteOh boy, I had quite high hopes for this one! At least I know what to expect now.
ReplyDeleteYeah, don't expect anything wonderful lol
DeleteDamn. I'm so tired of chloe moretz being miscast
ReplyDeleteI'm so tired of Chloe Moretz being cast.
DeleteWhen is she ever perfectly cast? I'm struggling to think of anything. She was miscast in Suspiria and Cameron Post most recently.
DeleteShe was good as snarky sister in 500 Days of Summer
DeleteLOL!!! I totally forgot she was in that. Subconscious way of preserving my adoration of the otherwise perfect film. Wasn't that like her big break. I remember reading an article about how she single handedly ruined every scene she was in. Funny how she really hasn't changed her approach to acting. She's still...either full tilt obnoxious or dreadfully boring. She knows no middle ground :-P
DeleteAhh you're right Sati, I can't believe I forgot about that.
Delete" It's The Walking Dead level plot devices. " - the shade :D This looks like tons of fun, I'll definitely see it!
ReplyDeleteI mean, they set the terrible standard at this point..
DeleteIt's at my multiplex right now though I think it's going to be gone immediately. I'll wait for the DVD or be on TV. I still want to see it because of Isabelle Huppert.
ReplyDeleteShe's about the only reason it's worth a watch.
DeleteSimon's turning 47 this Thursday.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Huppert, and I'm even a fan of (some) of Neil Jordan's work, especially the little seen and wonderfully beautiful Ondine, but this looked straight up bad. And the fact that Moretz still has a career continues to baffle me.
ReplyDeleteMoretz is usually a reason I don't go see something. I didn't realize Joran did this until I sat down in the theater, I like a lot of his other work. Especially Breakfast on Pluto.
DeleteI'm with you on Moretz. I'm just not sold on her as an actress. She's 'fine' here but nothing that stood out at all. There are also times where the script doesn't exactly help her.
ReplyDeleteNor am I, and yes, the script doesn't really help anyone not named Greta.
DeleteI wondered about this flick and I am right that it is not very good. I mean Niles Crane could snap Isabelle like a twig.
ReplyDeleteAnd Chloe looks super athletic, it just bothered me. lol
DeleteYesh, Walking Dead plot devices? I was looking to see this just as something fun to see, but it's a little disappointing that it doesn't live up as a thriller. Nice review!
ReplyDeleteThe plot dictates everything they do, not the characters. That reminded me of The Walking Dead. lol
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