God Help the Girl

Name: God Help the Girl
Genre: Drama, Romance, Musical
Released: September 5, 2014
Duration: 111 min
Rating: 58
Cast: Emily Browning, Hannah Murray, Olly Alexander

2014

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 25 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 27 Ratings

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7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 27 Ratings

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God Help The Girl

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Movie Details & Credits

Amplify | Release Date: September 5, 2014 | Not Rated

Starring: Emily Browning, Hannah Murray, Olly Alexander

Summary: While in the hospital dealing with some emotional problems, Eve (Emily Browning) starts writing songs as a way of getting better. These leads her out of the hospital and to Glasgow, Scotland where she meets James and Cassie, two musicians at a crossroads of their own. What follows is a story of renaissance over the course of a long,While in the hospital dealing with some emotional problems, Eve (Emily Browning) starts writing songs as a way of getting better. These leads her out of the hospital and to Glasgow, Scotland where she meets James and Cassie, two musicians at a crossroads of their own. What follows is a story of renaissance over the course of a long, dream-like summer.… Expand

Director: Stuart Murdoch

Genre(s): Drama, Romance, Musical

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 111 min

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Critic Reviews

Kimberley Jones

Sep 10, 2014

God Help the Girl is not so perfectly crafted, but the promise – oh, the promise is irresistible. Read full review

Steven Rea

Sep 12, 2014

The film's conceit - mopey strangers meet, form a band, and take to the dance halls - has a Judy Garland/Mickey Rooney let's-put-on-a-show innocence, and exuberance. Read full review

Bilge Ebiri

Sep 5, 2014

It’s an inviting, approachable world that Murdoch creates for us — still a total fantasy, of course, but one with a veneer of plausibility. Get on its wavelength, and you’ll be utterly charmed. Don’t, and you’ll run screaming from the theater. Read full review

The Guardian Xan Brooks

Jan 24, 2014

God Help the Girl comes loose and easy, verging on the slipshod. It's warm and generous, verging on the sentimental; a film that crystallises the best and worst of Belle and Sebastian's songwriting skills. Read full review

Ed Frankl

Sep 3, 2014

Even if Murdoch's directorial style is at times off-putting - the dance routines oscillating wildly from charming to naff - it's hard not to be taken in by trips into Glasgow's backstreet gig venues and the type of Victorian splendour seen on screen too rarely. Read full review

Michael Ordona

Sep 11, 2014

The fine cinematography by Giles Nuttgens ("Hallam Foe," "Dom Hemingway") infuses warmth and texture. It conveys the laze of summer and juxtaposes the cold of the hospital with the not-quite-real palette of waking fantasy. However, also like the music, the filmmaking habitually meanders. Read full review

The Playlist Rodrigo Perez

Jan 24, 2014

A major gaffe, God Help The Girl finds a great artist taking on a huge challenge and stumbling painfully on its ambition almost every step of the way. Read full review

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User Reviews

xafom

Sep 6, 2014

Je t'aime, God Help the Girl, mais je suis vraiment énervé vous n'avez pas l'un des top 3 des chansons dans le film. Je veux dire, la chanson-titre de la remorque n'est même pas dans le film.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

awkwardMEOW

Sep 5, 2014

As expected (despite having only learned of this film's existence by a trailer TWO days ago) this is one of my fave movies ever and I'm so glad it came out right as I learned about it so I didn't have to wait AGES like many Belle & Sebastian fans. Gorgeous music written by Stuart and theAs expected (despite having only learned of this film's existence by a trailer TWO days ago) this is one of my fave movies ever and I'm so glad it came out right as I learned about it so I didn't have to wait AGES like many Belle & Sebastian fans. Gorgeous music written by Stuart and the film is his directorial debut.

SUPER sexy colours and unbelievably captivating Bohemian wardrobe and Wes Anderson feel (intentional since its produced by one his guys) and I don't even like Wes films (I know, hipster fail). OH, it totally reminded me of my newer obsession, French New Wave cinema and Emily even resembled Anna Karina and then I googled and found people mentioning both these things in their reviews too so like, my interests are colliding right now and yay validation.

Let's see, what else? Fun dancing and angst and depression. Okay, not all fun. I kept expecting Hannah (aka Gilly from GoT) to start carrying around a baby... it was odd seeing her in something other than nighttime scenes in rags! And sometimes the transition to singing was jarring was awesome as was the cheesy faces and fourth-wall breaking that took place throughout each performance.

So yeah, I am a Belle and Sebastian fan, but my bias is not to blame here... I'm not a DIEHARD fan... so my love for the soundtrack / film wasn't guaranteed. Stuart did all this, man, this was like a 5 years dream project for him. It's indie. It's twee. Oh, damn, it's so twee and all the haters are just goons.

I love you, God Help the Girl, but I am really pissed you didn't have one of the top 3 songs in the movie. I mean, the title track from the trailer isn't EVEN in the film. Think of that for a moment. #what

OH AND THE ENDING. Not gonna say more. But this movie basically took my expectations and followed them, and then didn't. It might even pass the Bechdel Test. There was some nice girl-on-girl friendship. Emily Browning is amazing, she was the best part of Sucker Punch and that Sleeping Beauty film (where girl takes drugs and then guys get to sleep with her) proved she was something special.

Okay, I'll stop squeeing for now. I just am happy because I found a unique, lo-fi musical to love forever.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

VonSeux

Dec 28, 2014

I'm such a fanboy about belle & sebastian and it's so satisfying to see a film/musical that captivates the essence and melancholy of the band. Maybe this is "fans only" but if you're a fan,you'll be delighted

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ryandiamandis

Sep 19, 2014

The movie is a bit confusing (at least, it was for me) but it does not change the fact that it's beautiful. It's really beautiful. I expected more, but I still liked it. The songs are great and the story too. You probably will find it boring, but if you really get into the movie you'll like it too.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MarcDoyle

Sep 6, 2014

If nothing else, the music is great, and the trio of actors are a treat to watch. As NY Mag says, if you buy into the fantasy of the thing, you'll love it, if not, you might be a bit bored. I enjoyed it.

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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