Skip to main content

New Release Birb: Thoroughbreds

Thoroughbreds
Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy and Olivia Cooke
Written and Directed by Cory Finley
US Release Date: March 9th, 2018
My First Viewing: March 7th, 2018

 Making his feature-length debut, writer/director Corey Finley poses the question "what lengths would to in order to get rid of something that you hate." In the case of Lily (Anya Taylor-Joy, Split) and Amanda (Olivia Cooke, Me, Earl & the Dying Girl), that problem they want to get rid of is Lily's stepfather. 

 Reuniting after a falling out that involved Amanda killing her horse, upper-class polar opposites Lily and Amanda serve as foils and sounding boards, trying to get a sense of emotion and understanding out of each other. For Amanda, she has an emotionless streak that she chalks up to as some sort of mental disorder du jour, and for Lily, it is being able to emote and show and vocalize her frustration toward her stepfather (Paul Sparks, House of Cards). As the movie progresses, they end up taking on each other's traits while also serving as a mutual balance. 

 The story is broken up into four "chapters", and the best parts of the film are any scene where Cooke and Taylor-Joy are able to have a quick-fire back-and-forth at one another.  This is a black comedy/thriller hybrid that you don't really know where things are going to lead, and the humor comes in bursts. The ending is kind of out of left field teetering on the line of plausibility, but it's something I can understand and that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the overall film. This also, sadly, was Anton Yelchin's last film, unexpectedly and tragically passing away after this film was done with shooting. Yelchin plays Tim, a drug dealer who, much like Lily and Amanda, is trying to find his place in the world. Hopefully, this movie can get some eyes on it so more interesting arthouse films like Thoroughbreds can continue to be released. 

 Thoroughbreds is rated R for bloody images, languages, and sexual behavior. What are your thoughts? Follow me at twitter.com/moviebirb or facebook.com/moviebirb and leave your comments. 

 -birb

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Best Picture Birb- Get Out

Get Out Starring: Daniel Kaluuya and Allison Williams Written and Directed by Jordan Peele US Release Date: February 24, 2017 Most Recent Viewing: March 3, 2018 Image Credit: movieposter.com Nominated for four Academy Awards (including Best Actor and Best Picture), Get Out is the directorial debut of Key & Peele star Jordan Peele, who also produced and wrote the screenplay.  Part horror-thriller, part social commentary on race in our society, Get Out  tells the story of the relationship between Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) and Rose (Allison Williams), and their dynamic when Rose brings Chris to meet her family for the first time. Bradley Whitford, Catherine Keener, and Caleb Landry Jones play Rose's parents and siblings.  This is so much more than your standard horror fare, and I am so happy that the Academy honored this film with as many nominations as it did. Blumhouse Productions, who have their hands in many of the big horror franchises on the last decade p...
Post a Comment
Read more

Movie Birb Presents: My 18 Favorite Films of 2018- Part One

Movie Birb Presents:  My 18 Favorite Films of 2018 Part One- Honorable Mentions 2018 has been an amazing year for film, and for myself personally. By years end I will have seen over 160 motion pictures released in the 2018 calendar year, by far the most I have seen in one year. Being able to see so many films, write this blog, and communicate with everyone on social media has given me perspectives on films that I may not have seen previously, the way I watch films, and how to voice my opinion. This list is my personal opinion of what are my   favorite  films of 2018 are, and not what I think are the   best.  The list of honorable mentions is all of the films that I rated four-stars or higher that did not make my top 18. Without further ado, here are my honorable mentions for my favorite films of 2018. Four-Star Honorable Mentions Shoplifters-  Hirokazu Koreeda, Director Aquaman-  James Wan, Director Mary Poppins Returns-  Rob Marsha...
Post a Comment
Read more

New Release Birb- A Fantastic Woman

A Fantastic Woman (Una Mujer Fantástica) Starring: Daniela Vega and Francisco Reyes Directed By Sebastián Lelio US Release Date: November 17, 2017 My First Viewing: March 2, 2018 A nominee for Best Foreign Language Film at the 90th Academy Awards, A Fantastic Woman stars Daniela Vega as Marina, a woman who is dealing with grief and the prejudice of those around her life after the death of her older partner.  This is a beautiful movie that is carried by Vega. She makes this movie so profoundly powerful that you feel with her through her journey, even if this is not something a lot of people can directly relate to. Marina has a difficult enough time in her life dealing with the death of her partner Orlando (Francisco Reyes), but with this being a relationship with a much older man and a trans woman, there are added layers. Between the police, doctors, and Orlando's family, Marina has a lot to deal with, but she is strong and isn't afraid to fight for what she believes ...
Post a Comment
Read more