X
- 2020
- R
- Momentum Pictures
- 1 h 44 m
- 2020
- R
- Momentum Pictures
- 1 h 44 m
Summary At a remote lake house in the Adirondack Mountains, a couple entertains an out-of-town guest looking for inspiration in her filmmaking. The group quickly falls into a calculated game of desire, manipulation, and jealousy, unaware of how dangerously convoluted their lives will soon become in the filmmaker’s pursuit of a work of art, which...
Directed By: Lawrence Michael Levine
Written By: Lawrence Michael Levine
- 2020
- R
- Momentum Pictures
- 1 h 44 m
- 2020
- R
- Momentum Pictures
- 1 h 44 m
Black Bear
79
7.0
Where to Watch
Summary At a remote lake house in the Adirondack Mountains, a couple entertains an out-of-town guest looking for inspiration in her filmmaking. The group quickly falls into a calculated game of desire, manipulation, and jealousy, unaware of how dangerously convoluted their lives will soon become in the filmmaker’s pursuit of a work of art, which...
Directed By: Lawrence Michael Levine
Written By: Lawrence Michael Levine
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 27 Critic Reviews
79
96% Positive
26 Reviews
26 Reviews
4% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 27 Critic Reviews
79
96% Positive
26 Reviews
26 Reviews
4% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Ultimately, Black Bear is about the price of art — not only the price the artist pays, but that the people around the artist end up paying, unwittingly. Yet in the actual experience of it, the movie doesn’t feel so lofty. It just feels tense and disquieting, like a thriller. In that sense, it is a thriller, but one of the emotions, and it’s riveting every step of the way.
It’s brainy, sure, but the emotional experience is what’s most vivid. The plot beats may confound you, but the feelings behind them are crystal-clear.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 45 User Ratings
7.0
76% Positive
34 Ratings
34 Ratings
18% Mixed
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
7% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 45 User Ratings
7.0
76% Positive
34 Ratings
34 Ratings
18% Mixed
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
7% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
there's just... something about what aubrey does here. it truly feels like a career defining turning point. her performance is unflinching and destructive, yet elusive to the core, almost to the point of blurring the lines between the artist and the art. bette davis-ish in it's composition and VERY aubrey plaza in execution, perfectly encapsulating the experience of the whole film itself. if the oscars don't recognize talent then i'm so sorry sweety cause SHE IS THE MOMENT
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Aubrey Plaza is terrific in this!
'Black Bear' is intriguing from beginning to end. I did find the first half to be the stronger and most interesting part, though the conclusion is still fairly captivating all the same. As noted, Plaza is excellent throughout - she carries the film, no doubt. Christopher Abbott has a few moments, while it's neat to see 'The Walking Dead' newcomer Paola Lázaro involved.
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Black Bear is the movie that proves, beyond any lingering doubt, that Aubrey Plaza has much more to offer than the best eye-roll in the business. Maybe that was clear already.
Throughout clever turns and twists of the plot, Levine presents a meditation and deconstruction on life imitating art and vice versa with a dash of Robert Altman and a nod to David Mamet as players fill in the story.
It’s not the neatest film-dissecting-filmmakers story, with rough edges, lurches in tone and trite tropes and dialogue. But the characters make us wince in recognition and the situations, even the ones we know are coming, are real enough to cringe over.
This adventurous seriocomedy has enough surprising elements and off-kilter humor to keep one intrigued, even if the payoff is debatable.
Levine’s playful deconstruction of tortured genius is a witty and provocative send-up of tyrannical directors, diva-ish actors and over-invested voyeurs alike.
The most stand out aspect of this film is definitely Aubrey Plaza's captivating performance. Its a pretty quirky film and the plot seemed a little muddled perhaps but its pretty gripping, certainly at the end. It has a sinister and haunting type feel to it, so suffice to say its a bit of a dark watch but a good watch, so yes I'd recommend it.
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I don't know if I "get" this film completely, and I'm not sure if that is on me, but I definite liked it very much. It's very dynamic and strangely kept me on my toes. I think most people coming to Metacritic can see the the ratings here reflect a general warm feeling towards it on the whole, but I feel much more strongly that the performance by Aubrey Place is what makes this movie so great. It's both a character study and and acting showcase for her portraying the two sides of one coin. There is even a nice meta nod to how the characters within has just created a life changing performance. All in all it has some great dialogue and creates an amazing atmosphere intrinsic to which side is playing out. The music is also really good, but something is off about it as well. It's extremely heavy and somewhat darker than the film overall. I would definitely suggest watching this if you are curious about Aubrey's depth and reach as an actor or just a fan of her's. l'll have to give it another watch when I feel up to it.
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I liked it because it's not your average dumb comedy, but still is nothing extraordinary, but I would recommend it quickly and without problems.
Although I have to admit that it made me remember once again that Aubrey Plaza receives too much credit and I still don't know why.
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Production Company
Tandem Pictures,
Blue Creek Pictures,
Oakhurst Entertainment,
Productivity Media
Release Date Dec 4, 2020
Duration 1 h 44 m
Rating R
Awards
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards
• 3 Nominations
Hollywood Critics Association
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
Chlotrudis Awards
• 2 Nominations
