The writer/director/star is enchanted with herself. I hated the cat.
Everyone in America, especially those uber-arbitrators of culture, The New York Times, is in love with Miranda July – except me. I read Katrina Onstad’s worshipful, non-objective profile, “Miranda July Is Totally Not Kidding”, recently published in The New York Times Magazine (July 14, 2011). It reads like a very long press release. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/17/magazine/the-make-believer.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1
Here is the problem with writing, directing and starring in a film: There is no objectivity! In THE FUTURE, every man that gazes at Sophie (July) falls madly – “I found my soul mate!” – in love with her. Why?
I just did not see Sophie’s appeal. Neither will you.
Both Sophie and Jason speak in a droll, emotionless cadence for the entire running time of 1 hour 31 minutes. Actually, they speak like FLDS hostage-members.
Sophie has an adult “security blanket”. It’s a T-shirt that comes alive.
Did I mention that Paw-Paw talks to the audience and the Moon gives Jason love advice?
July keeps the camera lovingly on her huge eyes. She fearlessly displays her anorexic body. It does not look like July is a trained dancer or works out. We do see many shots of her best asset.
For no logical reason, except to hurt Jason, Sophie begins an affair with creepy Marshall (David Warshofsky), who immediately falls in love with her. Not to be outdone, Jason has his own inexplicable, secretive relationship with an old man he met through a Pennysaver ad.
When Sophie cruelly tells Jason about her affair, he freezes time and asks, not the Burning Bush, but the Moon for counsel.
I doubt THE FUTURE will be sent around to director’s as an audition piece but with the glowing press July has garnered, and a modest film budget for self-glorification, we’ll be seeing more of her “quirky” take on her life.
Member of Broadcast Film Critics Association: www.bfca.org/
Member of the Las Vegas Film Critics Society: www.lvfcs.org/
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Victoria Alexander lives in Las Vegas, Nevada and answers every email. You can contact Victoria directly at masauu@aol.com.