"Promising Young Woman"

 

The publicity for "Promising Young Woman" describes the movie a "woman's revenge thriller", and that is an accurate description.  It also could have borne a dedication to Brett Kavanaugh, as the actions of the protagonist, Cassie, wonderfully played by Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan, clearly are motivated by the long ago deeds of entitled young men that were described in such detail during the Justice's confirmation hearings.

When we first see Cassie, she is in a bar, dressed sexily, and drunk to the point of almost being passed out, while three young professionals stand at the bar, leer and make crude remarks about how she is "obviously just asking for it." One of the creeps offers to call her a cab or drive her home, ends up taking her to his apartment, and begins the process of attempting to have sex with her.  The operative word here is "attempting", because it turns out that Cassie isn't drunk, and she has her own reasons for allowing herself to be brought into this guy's apartment.

We soon learn that Cassie is a thirty year old woman who still lives at home with her parents, and that she was once a promising medical student until she inexplicably dropped out of med school, and is now holding down a dead end job in a "shitty coffee shop."  What is it with her and what is motivating her? 

This is a very taut thriller, and any mayhem or violence is implied or happens off camera.  It is pretty much the perfect example of how Alfred Hitchcock defined "suspense" (and I am paraphrasing here):  "Suspense" isn't watching a building blow up; "suspense" is watching a meeting take place around a conference table while knowing that a bomb has been planted in a briefcase under the conference table.  Will it blow up, and, if so, when?  Just watch the scene when Cassie meets with the Dean of the Medical School, played by Connie Britton, and you'll see what I mean.

Carey Mulligan has been nominated for Best Actress for her performance in this, and it is well deserved.  She really is amazing in this one, especially in the way she can change expressions by a simple shift of her eyes that can tell you that she is not a sloppy drunk but a calculating woman with something else entirely on her agenda.  It is hard to believe that this young woman Cassie is being played by the same actress who portrayed the middle aged war widow in "The Dig."  I guess this is what makes her such a terrific actress.

The movie was written and directed by Emerald Fennell, who also played Camilla Parker-Bowles in "The Crown."  She is only 35 years old, and she has been nominated for Oscars for this movie in both the screenwriting and directing categories.  "Promising Young Woman" also is an example of a point that I was trying to make when I wrote about the movie "Nomadland" last month.  What makes a great or even a good movie?  Is it sweeping and gorgeously shot scenes that are cinematic art, or is it a movie that just truly entertains you?  "Nomadland is a piece of  art, no doubt, but not a movie that will truly entertain you (my opinion, of course).  "Promising Young Woman" does both.  Great acting, great directing and production values, and a story that grabs you right from the beginning and never lets up, and THAT is entertainment.

This is one very suspenseful movie that leads to a dynamic conclusion, and I will give no spoilers, but I will give a hearty recommendation that you see it.  

Three and One-half Stars from The Grandstander.

Oh, and if you are wondering why The Grandstander has yet to weigh in on the Academy Awards nominations that were announced last week, it is because I was waiting to see this movie.  I have now seen five of the eight films nominated for Best Picture, so you can expect my thoughts and comments in the near days ahead.

The many faces of Cassie, 

as played by Carey Mulligan