Just got home from seeing The Substance, a film that’s desperately trying to make a statement of some substance but grotesquely fails.
I liked the first hour or so before what could have been great science fiction becomes illogical and turns into a horror that’s so absurd that people in the cinema were laughing.
That’s my issue with the Substance. It’s a good idea (although slightly predictable) and I thought the performances from the leads were good but it drags on far too long. There were a couple of moments about 30-45 mins before the finish when I assumed the film was ending, but no, on it goes with scenes that really add nothing to the story or the “message”.
If you look at Rotten Tomatoes 🍅 most of the public say something along the lines of this whereas the critics are largely gushing praise.
I think this makes a good illustration of the difference between public and critics: Is the public looking for entertainment and the critics looking for artistic merit?
I’m simplifying it somewhat but I see an ever increasing divide. Personally I want a logical storyline that’s believable. This for me is the bones of any book or film. A book then adds the flesh by good writing and a film by good acting and directing.
The Substance has good acting, directing that looks like 3 different directors have stepped in at different points, and a storyline that makes no sense in an effort to be artistic and clever. Not since AI has a film made me feel this annoyance.
Comments
I think this makes a good illustration of the difference between public and critics:
Is the public looking for entertainment and the critics looking for artistic merit?
I’m simplifying it somewhat but I see an ever increasing divide. Personally I want a logical storyline that’s believable. This for me is the bones of any book or film. A book then adds the flesh by good writing and a film by good acting and directing.
The Substance has good acting, directing that looks like 3 different directors have stepped in at different points, and a storyline that makes no sense in an effort to be artistic and clever.
Not since AI has a film made me feel this annoyance.