SummaryWhile 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, d...
SummaryWhile 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, d...
God Help The Girl is, in other words, a spotty movie — sometimes silly, sometimes dead serious. It is, however, nobly spotty — inconsistent in a way contemporary productions rarely are, its shortcomings the result of an excess of creative energy, rather than a lack thereof.
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
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.
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.
When it comes to writing and directing movies, though, Murdoch has some work to do. “Girl” meanders narratively and with random chronology, some scenes playing like tepid music videos, others as unhelpful efforts at exposition, some as strained drama, and some as the genuine, funny, spontaneous interactions of gifted young people.
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 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 **** 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.
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.
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.