Julianne Moore reminds us why she’s one of the best actresses alive in Gloria Bell, the wonderful new film from director Sebastian Lelio, who co-wrote the intimate and thoroughly believable screenplay with Alice Johnson Boher.
The film examines painful and harsh truths about relationships and the trust that people put into one another, and how the smallest of things can elicit both love and sadness, sometimes all at once.
Moore stars as a divorced mother who is looking to find a new course for her life, and when she meets a newly-divorced prospect in the form of scruffy John Turturro (rarely more down to earth and “normal”), sparks fly, and complications ensue.
This is a very sexy, intimate, and funny movie, and the slightly unnerving if sometimes jarring musical score clearly wanted to represent the chaotic headspace that Moore’s character was constantly going through.
Lelio and Boher’s subtly layered screenplay might withhold a bit too much information about one character (more empathy might be possible if one plot point could be cleared up), but in general, this is a wonderful snapshot of a woman in transit, and because Moore can do so much with just her face (there are two scenes in this film, at minimum, which could be shown in acting classes worldwide) to say nothing of the generous screenplay, this is one of those films that hits numerous bittersweet spots – as life is so often compelled to do.
Interesting to note that this is essentially a shot for shot remake of Lelio’s original Chilean film from a few years ago.
Also interesting to note – very few modern movies explore a middle-aged woman’s sexual desires in this matter-of-fact terms; I loved watching the character of Gloria evolve, even if by the end, you realize it’s not so much about the journey but more the fine details of life.
Review by Nick Clement
Summary
Now playing nationwide in theaters, this A24 release should have been more well-timed to capitalize on Moore’s bravura performance – seek this film out if you’re looking for a character-driven drama with generous amounts of smart humor. And while this is a picture that will play just as well at home as it does on the big-screen, it felt great to support a movie of this sort.
