Mistress America Movie Review

Directed by Noah Baumbach, Mistress America is a story of betrayal.
Wait. No. No, it isn't. Well I guess it's more about how very different people often get along good. Or don't (so basically, human nature).

Tracy(Lola Kirke), is a college freshman in New York who finds that college is almost nothing like she expected. She describes the experience to her mother as "being at a party where you don't know anybody". Her mother, who is getting remarried asks Tracy to call her to-be partners's 30 year old daughter, Brooke(Greta Gerwig).
So she does. And before we know it, Tracy's in a cab with her, on the way to the best night she's ever lived, casually being passed what would possibly be her first cigarette ever by the dynamic Brooke. We soon see our two main characters sitting on chairs higher than the table talking about their existential crisis. I think. I don't remember.

"Kind and fearless", Brooke describes herself as. That's a definition of 'kind' that most people would disagree to. Lola and Greta both nail their performances, coming off as natural than annoying caricatures. Not particularly likeable, these characters are what I was invested in. Yet, 30 minutes past, I was still clueless about where the movie was headed. In the beginning, this movie felt very fast-moving. In an irregular manner. It took some time to find its footing.

Tracy admires Brooke. Brooke likes to be admired."She was too much fun to agree with." She's the kind of open-spirited person that appears in movies once in a while. All we need is a little twist and punch to it, and we're good to go. Brooke, in this case, wants to open a restaurant. I could easily compare certain scenes and character moments in this film to say, a Wes Anderson or a Woody Allen film. But Baumbach has gained my respect and  I acknowledge his style as his own (influenced, however it may be).

The addition of a certain character who is introduced late in the film felt like a plot convenience than an essential part of the film. But they way he is written made me look past that. This character who claims he isn't the boring square his wife thinks him to be because he "saw Nirvana live. Before Nevermind." slowly seemed less of an intrusion in the film's tone.

Quite like Baumbach's last venture "While We're Young", this movie provides commentary on social media and mobiles altogether in a seemingly unconcerned manner. And quite like "While We're Young", some parts of Mistress America were thoroughly fresh, while others I was indifferent to. Although, this one is surely more comedic.

"You're funny 'cause you don't know." says one. "I know." says Brooke (played by Greta Gerwig, who also co-wrote the film).

The reliance on movement of characters rather than camera, the brilliant dialogues, the fleshed out protagonists and the breezy story-telling format make Mistress America a rather good film.
The sometimes annoying side characters, the weak storyline and the misguided narrative prevent it from being a great one.

"Being a beacon of hope for the rest of the world is a lonely business."

Mistress America is movie I could not recommend you to go watch instantly, but if you do get the chance, don't skip. This vibrant, colorful movie is a guaranteed entertainer, and might just speak to you at some level.

So have you seen this movie?What did you think about it? Comment below.  And if you like what you read, give this a like. Share, even.