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| Courtesy of Magic Violet |
As
you might imagine, I watch a lot of movies – more than 100 every year is
probably a decent guess. However, one of the drawbacks of seeing so many is
that it takes a lot to surprise me now. Once the characters are established and
the plot kicks into gear, I can tell you everything that’s likely to happen
before the end credits roll.
That’s
why Violet & Daisy, Academy Award-winning screenwriter Geoffrey
Fletcher’s directorial debut, was such an enjoyable experience at last week’s
crowded screening in Carrollton. For the first time in recent memory, I had no
clue what was going to happen. Even now, it’s tough to classify the movie in a particular
genre.
At
first it seems like audiences are in for a Tarantino-style tribute to
exploitation flicks, but then it becomes a modern fairy tale. And by the end it
has somehow transformed into an existentialist one-act play that delves into
the importance of life, death, meaning and friendship. On the surface, that
might sound tedious or morose, but the 90-minute film is full of laughs, complex
ideas and striking cinematography.
Violet
(Alexis Bledel) and Daisy (Saoirse Ronan) are teenage girls who make their
living by assassinating criminals in New York City. Any extra money goes toward
their obsession with pop idol Barbie Sunday’s designer clothing line.
Determined to get their hands on those dresses as quickly as possible, the duo accepts
a mission from their handler (Danny Trejo) to kill a shadowy target (James
Gandolfini) for a big payday.
Plans
change once they meet the mystery man, since he’s not the typical bad guy
they’re used to taking out. He’s mild-mannered, soft-spoken and he leads them
to examine their lives from a new perspective. They’re all wounded souls, but this
strange encounter could provide them all with an opportunity to repair some of
the damage.
With Violet & Daisy, Fletcher creates a unique, surreal world full of
intriguing characters that seem capable of anything. Then, just when you think
you’ve got them figured out, they’ll make a surprising decision that sends the
narrative spiraling in a completely unexpected direction.
The
characters’ occupations and personalities have something to do with that, but so
does Fletcher’s brilliant decision to cast against type. In a movie with Tony
Soprano and Machete, the most unhinged character is portrayed by a Gilmore
Girl. There’s something bizarrely wonderful about that.
Bledel
is great as the old pro assassin of the duo (well, as much as a teenager can be
an “old pro”), bestowing her whacked-out wisdom upon her more innocent protégé,
played by Ronan with just the right mixture of whimsy and levelheadedness.
She’s got strong comedic timing, a gift she doesn’t typically get a chance to
show off in her films. The two actresses demonstrate terrific chemistry with
each other, as well as the eventual third participant in their characters’ journey.
That
brings me to Gandolfini, the not-so-secret weapon of Violet & Daisy. He
gets a too-infrequent opportunity to play someone other than a gangster or
slimeball, and he’s marvelous at it. Audiences are so used to seeing him as a
threatening figure that it’s almost disconcerting at first to see him playing
such a warm, paternal role. We keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, but it
never does. His scenes with Ronan, in particular, are weird, hilarious and
heartwarming, often at the same time. I hope the film gets a decent release
just so audiences can get the chance to see the actor play a relatively normal
guy.
Fletcher’s
film is visually absorbing as well. Every scene has a timeless, dreamlike
quality, contributing to the modern fairy tale vibe. I particularly liked the
atypical locations the filmmaker chose for his scenes; they seem more authentic
and lived-in than the usual shiny landmarks found in New York-set mainstream movies.
Violet
& Daisy opens in limited release on June 7. At the moment, it’s only
scheduled to play in a single Atlanta-area theater: AMC Barrett Commons. If you
enjoy unconventional films – or you’re already burned out on sequels,
superheroes and explosions – it’s worth the drive. Support movies that take
risks, even if that means stepping out of your comfort zone a bit.
Violet
& Daisy is not yet rated, but contains violence and strong language.
Grade:
B+
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