Sienna Miller gives a surprisingly strong performance as Edie Sedgwick in 'Factory Girl' - she and Guy Pearce as (a rather sinister) Andy Warhol, are the main reasons to see the movie. The film itself does not rise above standard biopic fare and as such, there's a worrying amount of pop psychology. Considering the rich atmosphere with which its dealing (Warhol's Factory at its peak) you might be surprised at the grimness of mood. It's a shame, really, because it should be a lot more fun than it really is - perhaps Miller herself, who makes us feel a bit too much and by the end, the downfall is unpleasant to watch. Still, there are good scenes (the best being when Edie is replaced by Ingrid Superstar) and some strong performances but there are big problems. Jimmy Fallon's character accompanies Edie to New York - he's rather conservative when we see him, but then suddenly there he is as part of Warhol's entourage and never really says anything until he coaxes Edie during filming. No explanation is given - were scenes excised? He just droops around in the background rather strangely. Even worse is the Dylanesque character played by Hayden Christensen. It's a really lousy performance - amateurish with a couple of external mannerisms thrown in and it never convinces. The same can be said for his relationship with Edie that draws the action to a swift halt - it never recovers.
Review of Factory Girl
