Carey Mulligan amazing performance
PROMISING NEW GIRL by Emerald Fennell who makes her phenomenal debut as a director and wrote the original screenplay tells the story of Cassey Thomas in her 30s (the astonishing Carey Mulligan) who finds herself alone in a bar completely drunk until then seen by 3 guys who then start discussing tactics to take advantage of the situation and have a sexual relationship with the girl who seems disconcertingly disoriented at the same time as unprotected.
But then, after being taken to the apartment by one of them who is said to be "a very good guy" who then tries to seduce her. When he persists and even removes Cassey's panties, she asks him still in a drunken voice: "What are you doing?" then he puts his head between Cassey's legs, which then gets up and in an incredible close-up and completely sober and without the slightest symptom of alcohol and repeats the question this time in a formal and commanding tone: "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" much to the surprise and shock of the same young man.
When the credits of the film come with the song "it's Raining Men" (ironically but not by chance) reworked by DeathbyRomy and we already know that this film will take us on a road that is rarely traveled. With an absolutely top notch cast with names like Alison Brie, Clancy Brown, Adam Brody, Jennifer Coolidge, Laverne Cox, Connie Britton, Molly Shannon and Alfred Molina.
Cassey's favorite pastime at first seems to be that pretending to be drunk and meeting a man who is always in the mood for something more ... and after changing places with them, humiliates them and discards them the same way they would do with her. She takes control of the situation.
Little by little we get to know Cassey's past a little better. She still lives with her parents (Clancy Brown and Jennifer Coolidge) who seem constantly concerned about the happiness and well-being of their daughter who has a notebook in which she makes notes after each meeting with these men. The film does not use flashbacks for the narrative, it prefers the conversation between characters that gives us hints from Cassey's past who has problems relating normally with other guys, she works in a coffee shop with her friend Gail (Laverne Cox) and always she seems a little bit out of touch with reality and clients, but she is admired by Ryan (Bo Burham) who met her in high school and who insists on trying to go out with her, who treats him very badly at the beginning. All of this is nothing compared to what is developing in the story.
Gradually we began to discover that Cassey had a great friend-sister named Nina who was once the victim of a very graphic and abusive rape (which we will never watch but learn some details), after a party at the school where Nina was completely drunk and out of his mind and that would forever mark the lives of the two girls.
Without revealing details of the film so as not to spoil the surprise with very interesting twists. This film surprised me for the creativity of the screenplay as well as for the whole choice of its cast.
Some critics say that this film is about revenge and I don't think that is true. I prefer to find more than this film and about justice for those who have been wronged. Voices silenced by traumas that cross the boundaries of can be tolerable. How could I as a human being take advantage of another human being (whether male or female) in a vulnerable condition?
The indirect mention of movements like "MeToo" is inevitable during the film. This always permeates the story. Women are treated as objects by influential and powerful men and silenced even by other women who always judge the behavior of their peers, often with a tendency to believe in men than in other women, except that Cassey does not accept this condition and imposes in an attempt to recover his self-respect and give dignity to his friend-sister Nina.
I love it when a film surprises me by becoming something unique, original and unexpected and director Emerald Fennell does so in this film.
The soundtrack has very interesting songs and happy choices. I particularly like two musical moments: Britney Spears' "Toxic" was reworked with a fantastic new instrumental arrangement by Anthony Willis and the song "Angel of the Morning" by Juice Newton - moment glorious when that song plays. The film is certainly one of the best in 2020 and is expected to compete for many awards.
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