FRANCES HA

FRANCES HA Review

By Darin Skaggs

     Most people can probably relate to not knowing if your rent will be paid, where their life is going and where any of your relationships are heading.  Noah Baumbach’s new film Frances Ha is all about learning to grow up and figure out how to live life.

     The film opens with Frances and Sophie.  It is clear from the way they act that they are best friends.  They are acting silly and laughing.  They are acting in almost an obnoxious way, but they are enjoying themselves.  They live together, happy as can be.  Frances is also dating someone.  He asks her to move in with him but she declines.  There is no scene with her boyfriend with any love, fun or passion.  It is clear she does not care about him as much as she does about Sophie.  Sophie then tells Frances that she has to move out because she is going to live with someone else.  The rest of the film is her dealing with that.

     The film looks at how hard it is to grow up and how silly we are trying to do it.  At one point Frances goes on a date and while trying to pay for dinner her credit card is declined.  So instead of letting the guy pay Frances runs to find an ATM.  She needs so bad to feel accomplished she would run anywhere to feel like she’s an adult.

     Frances is played by Greta Gerwig and she does wonderful in the role.  She brings out the comedy from the script while simultaneously playing the awkwardness and stress in Frances’ life.  The film is filmed in black and white which is a nice touch.  It gives the film a timeless quality.  It makes the film feel like it is really happening, like we are invading in on a moment in Frances’ life.

     The film is funny and even touching.  It has great characters that feel realistic due to the acting and the script.  It is one of the greatest films of the year and a good time.