Damsel

Magnolia Pictures | Release Date: June 22, 2018

5.2	USER SCORE Mixed or average reviews based on 25 Ratings

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KeithDowJul 9, 2018

'Damsel' is bold and rather peculiar offering from the Zellner brothers that threads together the notion of a western, comedy, and drama.

Robert Pattinson and Mia Wasikowska are entertaining as hell to watch and the film is unequivocally'Damsel' is bold and rather peculiar offering from the Zellner brothers that threads together the notion of a western, comedy, and drama.

Robert Pattinson and Mia Wasikowska are entertaining as hell to watch and the film is unequivocally beautifully shot--equal credit needs to be given to both the location scout and the cinematographer. However, it becomes clearer and clearer as the film unfolds that the story isn't quite fully fleshed out. While there are a handful of meaningful themes and existential musings that the Zellners work into the plot, they never leap off the screen and burrow as thoughts that further germinate inside one's mind after leaving the theater.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

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damselsucksJul 1, 2018

What a piece of crap. I’ve seen movies that were worse, but few that I deeply wanted to leave early more or that pissed me off as much. It has *some* merit (beautifully shot, a couple amusing moments). But ultimately: millennial garbage parWhat a piece of crap. I’ve seen movies that were worse, but few that I deeply wanted to leave early more or that pissed me off as much. It has *some* merit (beautifully shot, a couple amusing moments). But ultimately: millennial garbage par excellence. These two brothers wrote and directed it, and they clearly think they are the Coen brothers with a hint of Wes Anderson for whimsy. What’s more, they stole their take on male hope-projection onto a beautiful women from a much better film: There’s Something About Mary.

In attempting to subvert masculine cowboy tropes, they made a hack film of a different sort: one that is accepted because it panders to popular opinion among people who go to the renovated art house movie theater in the part of town they gentrified with their trust fund bucks. It isn’t that the opinion is wrong or uninteresting in and of itself, it’s just relayed in this film in such a hack, lazy, glib, boring way by people certain they’re more clever than they are.

It would have taken an amazing female lead to overcome the middle-school quality writing and all-too woke directing; their naturalistic take on zany Wes Anderson-movie dialogue was excruciating in certain scenes and I could have easily believed a teenager wrote it. But what was committed to film was one of the worst performances I’ve ever seen by an actor. To believe this woman was capable of starring in this or any picture is a strong indication you’re as irrationally obsessed with her as the film’s characters.

The result of all of this is a movie only certain people could enjoy: privileged white young women who can’t get enough of having their shallow politics pandered to and the men who subconsciously know they must share the same opinions if they want a social life, so they self-righteously and vociferously do: in other words, woke drama queens who will their victimhood while boasting their empowerment and their male allies (tm)/hangers on. Great movies don’t pander. They make people find unlikely surrogates. True subversion requires excellence and subtlety this film doesn’t come close to touching as it bashes its hack message into the faces of too many grateful to be bludgeoned with their own ideas. It doesn’t even require pretentious art house claptrap to attempt to subvert. Blockbusters like The Hunger Games--a film where the damsel is literally a cute, cake-baking boy who is saved by the ass-kicking heroine--do much more to change expectations and advance gender relations. That’s in no small part because that movie is well crafted. It’s a good movie to a broad audience (no pun intended). Damsel preaches sloppily to its own choir of loathsome millennial hipsters. I’d be just as pissed off watching a Kurt Cameron loves Jesus movie that pandered to evangelicals, and I'd be pissed for for the same exact reason. However, what's really troubling is the thought that this is the future of media post #MeToo. Indeed, that's scarier than Hereditary.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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GinaKJul 5, 2018

Although the intention and context are different, this film reminded me of the moment in Mel Brooks’ “The Producers” when the audience realizes that “Springtime for Hitler” is hilarious. I (and the rest of the audience at “Damsel”) didn’tAlthough the intention and context are different, this film reminded me of the moment in Mel Brooks’ “The Producers” when the audience realizes that “Springtime for Hitler” is hilarious. I (and the rest of the audience at “Damsel”) didn’t “get it” at the beginning and watched about a third of the film in silence – then suddenly the whole film made sense and we started to get the jokes and laugh out loud. Listen carefully to Parson Henry’s musings at the beginning of the film and then try to figure out what’s really going on. When you finally see how cockeyed the whole film is, I think you will find it very funny and enjoy it.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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DufreshestJul 6, 2018

Damsel: Who's Really In Distress?

Cinematography: 8.811/10 Fine. There are a lot of good angles though the film progresses extremely slow. In many instances, I feel as though I’m watching a screen saver slideshow that has all of theseDamsel: Who's Really In Distress?

Cinematography: 8.811/10 Fine. There are a lot of good angles though the film progresses extremely slow. In many instances, I feel as though I’m watching a screen saver slideshow that has all of these pleasant images and movements until dialogue begins.

Costume Design: 8.521/10 Not too shabby and accurate for each scene. The details of dress work well with the film. No matter how dirty and poor or clean and rich–people may be full of morals or moral-less.

Film Editing: 8.821/10 A job well done. When the film has a photographer in the ending scenes, I think of the importance of having the elements of photography in accordance with the elements of videography. There’s a really good balance.

Make-up and Hair-styling: 8.5/10 Very suitable to each area of the film and contributes to the photographic-videographic-thematic elements in Damsel.

Sound Editing: 7.658/10 Listening to the film, I think of Hero and Moonrise Kingdom. There are too many elements missing to make Damsel anything resembling either of these films though the sounds are lulling especially the chiming rhythms overflowing at times. I low-key want to hear the soundtrack.

Visual Effects: 8.219/10 Thumbs up to the imagery (not the metaphorical in this instance) throughout the film.

Story: 2.121/10 Now, the metaphoric imagery throughout the story is very dragging and draws towards and from many different directions. I do find myself laughing less and less throughout the film. There’s a huge theme around male and female genitals and relations throughout the film. I feel as though a lot of the comedy turns into mockery. I find myself having to embrace the film as a viewer that wants to analyze the film. Yet, the story seems to really fall apart after Sam meets Penelope and might be playing with ideas of a journey post-divorce, death, and true love.

Acting: 4.319/10 There’s definitely a different flow of humor progressing with heavy-serious undertones. Is it weird to say a lot of the dialogue doesn’t seem necessary after a point? Damsel would have done a lot better going full on Charlie Chaplin with color.

Personal: Damsel reminds me of a very very very tempered version of The Ridiculous Six. There seems to be a strong play on the slowness of the West as well as a strong emphasis on the importance of not dwelling. On another note, the film depicts the choice and control a woman has and how long she carries her vows with her. The idea of ’til-death-do-us-part is ever so present. The horny-rich man finds a love of his life out of his control. He sabotages her chances of living a happy life with another man. She refuses every part of the rich man though accepts the benefits of a prenuptial agreement from a man taking on the role of a preacher. There are so many angles to poke at in Damsel and a lot of them have phallic and religious relations. I find myself laughing at times then pondering then closing my eyes and listening. It takes me effort to get through the film awake. The most appealing aspect of the film to me is the imagery. I wonder: is the film low-key crediting Eadweard Muybridge?

Overall: 7.121/10

-K.D.

If you’re into Poetry and other bits of creativity, check out my Instagram: @Dufreshest.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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nntrancerJul 11, 2018

I managed to stay awake through this yawner and resisted heading for the exit as the only remedy for one of the worst movies I've seen. The writing was terrible. I never realized that it was a comedy until I read the reviews. I just thoughtI managed to stay awake through this yawner and resisted heading for the exit as the only remedy for one of the worst movies I've seen. The writing was terrible. I never realized that it was a comedy until I read the reviews. I just thought people were laughing at the ridiculous dialogue, scenes that apparently were supposed to be funny but seemed irrelevant instead, and scenes that didn't make sense. Moreover, it was obvious how the reunion was going to turn out from the beginning. I will admit the scenery and cinematography were quite pleasing. The only character I liked was the miniature horse.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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LovesindiesJul 15, 2018

As a lover of indies and original films, this film was up my alley! Daring. bold, funny, full of twists and turns that are totally unexpected! The pace was slow at times , but still this film is worth seeing. The cinematography isAs a lover of indies and original films, this film was up my alley! Daring. bold, funny, full of twists and turns that are totally unexpected! The pace was slow at times , but still this film is worth seeing. The cinematography is spectacular. Strong acting by Robert Pattinson, Mia Wasikowska, and David Zellner. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Saw it at an early film festival with a full audience. The men laughed the loudest. In an era of superhero films , this film is so original, quirky, hilarious, feminist, and different. If you enjoyed the Zellner brothers' Kumiko, you'll "get" this original film !… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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TyderiumJul 15, 2018

Kind of hard to imagine anyone taking this film literally. From across unknown waters we arrive at mountains and deserts, peopled by archetypes who don't talk or behave the way we expect. What we recognize is reckless violence and the beliefKind of hard to imagine anyone taking this film literally. From across unknown waters we arrive at mountains and deserts, peopled by archetypes who don't talk or behave the way we expect. What we recognize is reckless violence and the belief of every male character that they somehow have a right to the nearest female. As always, these two elements bring disaster, highlighted by the conceit that we're watching a classic western whose roles are as set-in-stone as a Punch and Judy show. The comedy is both subtle and broad, the only female unscathed by the bumbling machoism is the "maybe even unique" Butterscotch, who ultimately disappears back into the magical mist. Maybe blondes really do have more fun.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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PanchogulJun 14, 2020

Inmensamente aburrida, historia poco interesante, lenta y excesivamente sobreactuada.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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alejandro970Feb 13, 2021

Put together Buster Keaton and Droopy, and what you get? This is the story of a pioneer, troubadour who goes to the rescue of his fiancee but ... She doesn't love him, she doesn't even want to be rescued. A western that points more to BusterPut together Buster Keaton and Droopy, and what you get? This is the story of a pioneer, troubadour who goes to the rescue of his fiancee but ... She doesn't love him, she doesn't even want to be rescued. A western that points more to Buster Keaton than to Eastwood or John Wayne, without being disrespectful. When you hear the song Honeybun, just relax and smile.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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JLuis_001Feb 5, 2021

A comedy western that doesn't know where it's going, nor does it seem to know what it wants to be.

I saw it because both Robert Pattinson and Mia Wasikowska were the leads, but even they don't seem convinced of what they're doing.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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StrikeguyOct 20, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. That would be one of THE WORST movies I have ever seen in my entire life. This film had no point, no plot & no acting. Only thing that was good would be the scenery for only 30 minutes. Who wrote this film anyway?… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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