Mother! (2017)

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nMother! (2017)

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nDirector: Darren Aronofsky

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nCast: Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Michelle Pfeiffer,nEd Harris

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nDarren Aronofsky isn’t a stranger to playing with themes of Christianitynor religion, in fact, right from the get go with his first film Pi (1998), henwas already playing with ideas of religion vs. logic. Even when he did Noah (2014)na film based on the biblical tale of Noah’s ark, he twisted the tale in a waynthat the film actually turned into a critical view of the bible and itsnteachings instead of a purely “Christian Film”. When I saw Noah, I feltnAronofksy took many fantastical elements from the bible and slapped Christians rightnin the face with it. What angered Christians about Noah, and part of the reasonnwhy the Christian Community didn’t fully embrace that film was because theyncouldn’t deny that the “craziest” elements from that film where actually in thenbible to begin with. This is why I find that Aronofsky’s newest film Mother! (2017),nfits right in there with the rest of his cinematic repertoire. Aronofsky has alwaysnhad a strong critical voice about religion. So, how do his views on religionnshow up in Mother!?

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nMother! is all about this couple who lives out in the sticksnin the middle of nowhere. All they want is a bit of peace and quiet. He wantsnpeace in order to work on his writing and she enjoys working on improving hernhome. Problems begin to develop when uninvited guests being to knock at theirndoor to interrupt their secluded married life. Will these people ever stopncoming? What do they want?

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nThis is not a film to be watched like a regular film, it isnnot “linear” or even literal in any sense of the word, though it starts outnthat way. Mother! is a film filled with symbolisms, closer to the experience ofnwatching an Alejandro Jodorwsky film, where you aren’t supposed to follow anstory line in the traditional sense of the word, but instead, you are asked toninterpret what you are watching so that you can understand what thendirector/writer is trying to say.  ThatnAronofksy has made this type of film shouldn’t surprise anyone, after all, thisnis the director of The Fountain (2006), also a risky film, filled withnsymbolisms. I say risky because American audiences aren’t used to films theynhave to interpret. American audiences are used to being spoon fed the plot, sonI am not surprised that Mother! received such a cold reception at the boxnoffice. Aronofksy knew he was making a hard movie to sell, which is why Inapplaud him for taking the risk of making an honest film that will make usnthink. It’s so much more refreshing then repetitive dribble regularly projectednin movie screens across the world.  

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nParamount Pictures actually sent out a press release “apologizing”nfor Mother! saying that they recognize it isn’t a film for everybody, which isntrue. What I liked abot their press release was that they didn’t kick the movienin the gut, but rather, stood by it and its filmmaker, defending it by callingnMother! a bold film made by a director and actors at the top of their game.  The backlash from audiences has been brutal,nbut it’s probably because they don’t understand the film for what it is. Inmean, sure its images are shocking, gory, and brutal, but what do they standnfor? Could it be that it’s getting this backlash because it’s saying thatnChristianity is just as gory, shocking and brutal? I’m guessing that’s why it’snbeing lambasted. Because again, Christianity cannot deny that the savagery seennin the film actually reflects their own beliefs. It’s not nice looking in thenmirror and realizing you’re a monster.

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nKudos to Aronofsky for doing this. I mean, I was just asnshocked as everyone while watching the movie and it succeeds in making you feelnsomething, even if it is horrendous shock. But if you look past the shock,nthere’s something profound being said here. Not many filmmakers are as brave asnAronofsky.  People are saying its “thenworst film they’ve ever seen” and that they “left the theater before it ended”nbut it’s not because its badly acted or because it doesn’t look beautiful.nLawrence and Bardem are amazing in it. The film looks as beautiful as any othernAronofksy movie, though darker and grimmer for sure. Still, it’s not a badlynmade film, far from it. 

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nPeople are saying its “bad” because they can’t take thenshock. So if you can take shock, you’ll have no problem. If you can take strongnthemes, go see the movie. If you despise religion, politics and hive likenmentalities, you’ll dig this film. But if you are a Christian, you’ll probablynhate looking at your beliefs represented on film and you’ll hate the fact thatnyou can’t deny that this is what the bible teaches. Awesome movie in my book.nGo see it, test your boundaries then interpret what you’ve seen. I applaudenAronofsky and Paramount for making bold, different cinema, keep at it.

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nRating: 5 out of 5

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