JEANNE’S REVIEW

Death was exactly what I was hoping for as David and I sat through this screening. Based on the 2012 novel, Die, My Love by Ariana Harwicz, acclaimed filmmaker Lynne Ramsay has taken the story from rural France to rural Montana.

Written and directed by Ramsay, DIE MY LOVE stars Jennifer Lawrence as Grace and Robert Pattinson as Jackson, her partner. Upon inheriting a ramshackle old house from his deceased uncle, Jackson moves Grace to the countryside thinking she can now write The Great American Novel. Instead, they have a baby --- a darling son --- and Grace begins to unwind mentally.

Though many are calling this Lawrence’s greatest performance, I found her portrayal to be an unflattering copy of any of Emma Stone’s performances from any of her films with Yorgos Lanthimos --- on steroids. She occasionally plays with her baby --- though one scene has her leaving him alone with a rather large knife --- horrifying. She screams, often at Jackson’s poor puppy, she cries, she has real or imaginary sex with strangers, she trashes their bathroom and crawls around like an animal. Are you getting the picture?

And Jackson is no better. He doesn’t understand --- and certainly doesn’t try --- what is happening to Grace. He’s gone a lot, screwing around on Grace, and doesn’t work much. How they’re surviving is anyone’s guess.

Although Jackson’s mother, Pam (Sissy Spacek), tries valiantly to help, it’s not enough. Grace clearly needs professional help, but when Jackson has her committed, that connotes the beginning of the end.

I found the entire experience of watching DIE MY LOVE to be very painful. Postpartum depression is extremely serious and is finally being recognized as a common condition for many new mothers. Unfortunately, Ramsay’s depiction does nothing to aid in its treatment. It only exacerbates the repeated myths about the illness, cementing theories about women being “too emotional”, particularly those about women holding the office of president.

If you can’t tell by now, I did not like DIE MY LOVE, nor would I recommend it. If I can stop one person from sitting through this tragic mess, I’ve done my job.

Opinion: Don’t Bother!

DAVID’S REVIEW

Jennifer Lawrence gives a tour-de-force performance in director Lynne Ramsay’s latest film, DIE MY LOVE. Though I didn’t find the movie entertaining in the traditional sense, I can appreciate Lawrence’s portrayal of Grace, a mother suffering from depression.

The source of Grace’s sadness could be a result of her abandoning her writing, which was one reason why she and her partner, Jackson (Robert Pattinson), moved from New York into a rundown home in Montana formerly owned by Jackson’s uncle, who committed suicide. The old theory that peace and quiet would lead to creative brilliance loses all credibility here.

Jackson’s motivation for the move was to focus on his singing career, but that part of the story is generally ignored. Instead, Pattinson renders a subdued performance as he is trying to cope with his future wife’s descent into madness. Grace and Jackson have a cute baby boy which seems to have a negative impact on their sex life. Later Jackson brings home a puppy which Grace cannot be bothered with --- and Jackson is never home.

Like most couples, they enjoy the novelty of their changed surroundings and they have moments of explosive sex. But they also engage in horrific arguments. Grace is clearly not happy, suspecting Jackson of cheating because of his extended absences from their home. LaKeith Stanfield appears as a motorcycle dude with an apparent curiosity in Grace, and she seems interested in him, as well.

Jackson’s parents, played by Sissy Spacek and Nick Nolte live in the area, but their contributions to the story are minimal. As Jeanne has described, Grace’s erratic behavior worsens over time, so the question remains where will all this end?

Ramsay based her film on the novel Die, My Love by Ariana Harwicz, written in 2012. The director changed the venue of the book from France to Montana. Somehow a couple living in a remote area might lend itself to a modicum of insanity more so than a conventional setting. And Lawrence certainly adds a convincing dose of madness to this tale.

Opinion: Wait for VOD