I only want to talk about the acting.
Many fine acting performances took us into the very different mind-set of a very particular subculture in a very different time, with Matt Smith (Charlie) and Sosie Bacon (Katie) deserving of special mention.
However, it is Hannah Murray as Lulu / Leslie whose performance was a revelation. Charles Manson said ego would make you fool yourself, and that it had to be killed. Actors are often walking egos, so when Murray buried any self-conceit deep enough to provide her warts-and-all performance we saw vulnerabilities and flaws beyond those offered her by the somewhat sympathetic scripting. Murray's interactions with and reactions to the other lead actors in every case also helped with their believability.
Murray succeeded in letting us wholly disapprove of the action of her Lulu while at the same time causing us to relate to her Leslie, and even somewhat understand and sympathise with her. That is impressive, and I am away now to find another Hannah Murray film!
Many fine acting performances took us into the very different mind-set of a very particular subculture in a very different time, with Matt Smith (Charlie) and Sosie Bacon (Katie) deserving of special mention.
However, it is Hannah Murray as Lulu / Leslie whose performance was a revelation. Charles Manson said ego would make you fool yourself, and that it had to be killed. Actors are often walking egos, so when Murray buried any self-conceit deep enough to provide her warts-and-all performance we saw vulnerabilities and flaws beyond those offered her by the somewhat sympathetic scripting. Murray's interactions with and reactions to the other lead actors in every case also helped with their believability.
Murray succeeded in letting us wholly disapprove of the action of her Lulu while at the same time causing us to relate to her Leslie, and even somewhat understand and sympathise with her. That is impressive, and I am away now to find another Hannah Murray film!