I’ve become a big fan of Celine Song. I loved Past Lives and I also loved Materialists (although maybe not as much).
I love the way she keeps the camera still so we can just watch her actors act. If most of cinema is talking head shots, she’s becoming their master. The conversations are interesting, with real character and relational dynamics at play. I was reminded of Fincher’s work during Seven (among many others), where the talking head shots and the camera’s placements are used to communicate relationships, power, and authority. There are multiple two-shots where both performances in the frame are fascinating, but I’m only able to focus on one at a time. I want to watch this again just to stare at the other side of the frame in these shots.
I also love Song’s stories. I feel she’s one of the only working writers/directors today who’s telling modern stories (particularly romance stories) from a woman’s perspective. They feel like real stories about real people; her stories feels entirely authentic to the characters in them.
I’m excited to see where she goes from here. I’d happily watch this again.