Category Archives: Maggie Gyllenhaal

2021 Films, Dagmara Domińczyk, Dakota Johnson, Drama, Ed Harris, Jack Farthing, Jessie Buckley, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Olivia Colman, Paul Mescal, Peter Sarsgaard

The Lost Daughter-2021

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The Lost Daughter-2021

Director Maggie Gyllenhaal

Starring Olivia Colman, Dakota Johnson

Scott’s Review #1,232

Reviewed February 21, 2022

Grade: A

Throughout The Lost Daughter (2021), there is a constant feeling of dread that may result in viewer anxiety. We know that bad things are coming, but we do not know how or when. This makes for good drama done exceptionally well by director Maggie Gyllenhaal in her astounding debut.

She has acted for years and has made the transition to writer/director.

Gyllenhaal adapts her film from a novel written by Italian author Elena Ferrante. The experience is extremely female-centered, and having a female pen both book and film makes it a rich and authentic project.

The result is a brilliant depiction of motherhood and choices, making it essential for everyone to see and appreciate this film.

However, the film is not for everyone, nor will it please those seeking a conventional work about mother and daughter love and moments of happily skipping through the field of daisies. It has feel-good moments, but it’s much darker than some might expect.

For me, those aspects are what make The Lost Daughter so damned amazing.

We meet middle-aged Leda (Olivia Colman) when the woman embarks on a seaside vacation in Greece. She begins to observe a young mother, Nina, played by Dakota Johnson, and her daughter, Elena, on the beach and becomes obsessed with them.

Leda unwisely butts heads with the mother’s menacing extended family, who may be mafia-related.

Leda begins to have memories of her early motherhood when she struggled to raise two young girls while balancing her career as a professor. When she spontaneously steals Elena’s doll, she becomes increasingly obsessive, battling moments of rage and emotion.

Colman is a perfect choice for the central character. From the first moment she appears on the screen, we know there is conflict surrounding her. She is consumed by anger and either guilt or tension.

The actress is outstanding at portraying Leda’s complexities through her eyes and facial expressions. Many shots of Leda quietly observing events or sitting on the beach, deep in thought, are powerful.

Though a quiet film, The Lost Daughter never drags or lags, thanks to Gyllenhaal’s perfect portrayal of a doleful atmosphere. I was dying to know Leda’s secrets, and the interspersing flashbacks to a young Leda, wonderfully played by Jessie Buckley, finally provide resolution.

But that’s just the beginning of the fun. Once Leda’s backstory is revealed, and Gyllenhaal makes us wait quite a while for the reveal, there are more places for the film to go, like what about the stolen doll?

The viewer will not only wonder why Leda stole the doll but also why she won’t return it, especially when it’s known how desperately the family wants it back. Will they kill her when they find out she has it?

Beneath all the drama, a lingering question is posed to the viewers. Do I want to be a parent? The film is not only for women, but men can certainly ask themselves the same question.

The inclusion of a male character played by Ed Harris is evidence of this. In his youth, he struggled with being a father.

The film has a sense of purpose and meaning that many films lack. A film that poses questions and makes the viewer squirm a bit is top-notch for me. The basic story of a lone woman on vacation evolves into a tale of intensity and psychological warfare within oneself and one’s feelings.

The Lost Daughter (2021) is a complicated watch, but it offers a lesson in outstanding acting, directing, writing, and how atmosphere and mood can enhance a story layered with intrigue.

As shocking and unsettling as moments are, I was left feeling satisfied that I had seen something of worth and merit.

I can’t wait to see what Gyllenhaal does next.

Oscar Nominations: Best Actress-Olivia Colman, Best Supporting Actress-Jessie Buckley, Best Adapted Screenplay

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: 3 wins-Best Feature (won), Best Director-Maggie Gyllenhaal (won), Best Screenplay (won), Best Supporting Female-Jessie Buckley

2002 Films, Brian Cox, Catherine Keener, Chris Cooper, Comedy, Curtis Hanson, David O. Russell, Independent, Independent Comedy, John Cusack, John Malkovich, Judy Greer, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Meryl Streep, Nicolas Cage, Peter Ramsey, Ron Livingston, Spike Jonze, Tilda Swinton

Adaptation-2002

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Adaptation-2002

Director Spike Jonze

Starring Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper

Scott’s Review #1,064

Reviewed September 24, 2020

Grade: B+

Adaptation (2002) is a kooky film that is recommended for all writers or lovers of the written word, especially for those ever having suffered from writer’s block.

The film is wonderful for people who are either curious or obsessed (me!) with how a novel is turned into a screenplay.

With an A-list cast featuring Nicolas Cage and Meryl Streep, the offering is credible and not just a bumbling indie experiment with no budget. Stars must get paid, which allows the film a mainstream audience, and awards.

The film will be too weird for some. There is a measure of conceit and self-indulgence (it’s set in Los Angeles after all!) that is sometimes off-putting, but I adored the premise too much and chomped at the bit at what I was offered.

It’s quite non-linear and the characters sometimes do things that are weird or out of turn.

Adaptation is different (in a good way) and is recommended for its oddness as I cannot think of another film like it, though Being John Malkovich (1999) would be close. Director, Spike Jonze would later create Her (2013) and, of course, directed Malkovich too.

Charlie Kaufman wrote the screenplay and the central character is Charlie Kaufman, played by Cage, who also plays Kaufman’s brother Donald, a mooch. Charlie is self-loathing and disheveled but somehow likable. He struggles mightily to bring words into his head as he nervously sits at his typewriter day after day when he is tasked to adapt the novel, The Orchid Thief, into a film.

The novel’s author, Susan Orlean, played by Meryl Streep, intimidates Charlie, who decides to pay her a visit to New York City.

This film features the best work of Cage’s career. An actor who is “not for everybody”, the performance rivals that of Leaving Las Vegas (1995), in which he won an Academy Award.

A dual role is tough to play, but the actor does so with bombast and confidence, making the characters very different from each other and making me forget they were Cage.

Too often sinking to inferior action films like Face/Off (1997) or Con Air (1997), the actor wisely had an epiphany or something and made a wise decision. Cage does best when he goes for wacky- Raising Arizona (1987) is proof of that.

The supporting players, specifically Streep and Cooper are fantastic. Streep could fart through a film and still give a great performance and you can tell she enjoys the part of Susan, allowed to let loose. Her character loves sex and drugs and is not above devious shenanigans to get her way.

Cooper, who won the Oscar, is delicious as John Laroche, a theatrical character with missing front teeth, who is the secret lover of Susan.

Both provide great entertainment.

Adaptation simply feels good for a thought-provoking writer providing oodles of “writer things” to ponder and discuss with friends after the credits roll. Many scenes are rich with layered dialogue and rife with originality making the words sparkle with pizzazz.

And there are enough twists and turns to keep viewers guessing.

One of the most original and kooky films you will ever see, Adaptation (2002) pairs well with Being John Malkovich (1999) for an evening of the odd and absurd, but also films not altogether hard to follow.

The satirical Hollywood theme will both please and annoy but it’s all good fun and a lesson in creative art cinema.

Oscar Nominations: 1 win-Best Actor-Nicholas Cage, Best Supporting Actor-Chris Cooper (won), Best Supporting Actress-Meryl Streep, Best Adapted Screenplay

2009 Films, Colin Farrell, Drama, Independent, Independent Drama, Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Robert Duvall, Scott Cooper

Crazy Heart-2009

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Crazy Heart-2009

Director Scott Cooper

Starring Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal

Scott’s Review #571

Reviewed December 29, 2016

Grade: A-

Crazy Heart (2009) is a film that is perfectly crafted for Jeff Bridge’s talents as an actor and the role seems written specifically for him.

To that end, it is a showcase for the actor, and as proof, he was awarded the Best Actor Oscar.

He plays surly, grizzled, and rode-hard to the hilt. His chemistry with co-star Maggie Gyllenhaal is fantastic- despite her character being much younger than his.

The first directorial effort by Scott Cooper, who does an outstanding job.

Gyllenhaal plays a reporter, Jean Craddock, who becomes attached and fascinated by Bad Blake (Bridges), a former country-western star turned alcoholic and now a washed-up old man.

He has mentored an upstart played by Colin Farrell, who has since usurped Bad Blake in popularity, leading Blake to depression and alcohol to relieve his pain. He still performs, but in dirty hotels or bowling alleys, for peanuts.

Bridge’s character reminds me so much of Mickey Rourke’s character “Randy the Ram” in The Wrestler, from 2008, so anyone who enjoyed the latter will enjoy the former.

One might watch the two exceptional films in tandem- and in both, there appears a younger female character who meshes well with the stories.

The story portrayed in Crazy Heart is gritty and depressing, yet also heartwarming and sentimental. We root for Blake and Jean to succeed, battling Blake’s many demons.

Crazy Heart is very well-acted and genuine.

The film is nice as it is a character-driven film instead of a story-dictated one.

Oscar Nominations: 2 wins-Best Actor-Jeff Bridges (won), Best Supporting Actress-Maggie Gyllenhaal, Best Original Song-“The Weary Kind” (won)

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: 2 wins-Best Male Lead-Jeff Bridges (won), Best First Screenplay, Best First Feature (won)