"Wanda" has been hailed in the film critic community as a movie that made a huge leap forward for a certain brand of realistic method cinema. That might be true, but despite that, or maybe because of it, it's still a very frustrating viewing experience.
I literally cannot get in the head of a person like Wanda, played by the film's writer, producer, and director Barbara Loden. She's so meek, so directionless, so submissive. I don't understand how people can let themselves be treated so badly by those around them. This is two relentless hours of that, and nothing at the end of the movie is different from the beginning. Many laud Loden for her performance, but she very often came across dead in the eyes to me. But then again, maybe that was an acting choice and hers is actually a brilliant performance, because maybe that's how someone like a real-life Wanda would come across.
After the movie, which I saw on TCM, host Ben Mankiewicz was talking about how Loden based this movie and character largely on herself. She felt like there were a lot of people out there in the world who were like her, just waiting to be abused, and she wanted to make this movie so they would know they're not alone. I believe she's right, and hearing that made me appreciate the film's existence and her motivation for making it. But it didn't make me enjoy it any more or make me want to ever revisit it.
Grade: B+
I literally cannot get in the head of a person like Wanda, played by the film's writer, producer, and director Barbara Loden. She's so meek, so directionless, so submissive. I don't understand how people can let themselves be treated so badly by those around them. This is two relentless hours of that, and nothing at the end of the movie is different from the beginning. Many laud Loden for her performance, but she very often came across dead in the eyes to me. But then again, maybe that was an acting choice and hers is actually a brilliant performance, because maybe that's how someone like a real-life Wanda would come across.
After the movie, which I saw on TCM, host Ben Mankiewicz was talking about how Loden based this movie and character largely on herself. She felt like there were a lot of people out there in the world who were like her, just waiting to be abused, and she wanted to make this movie so they would know they're not alone. I believe she's right, and hearing that made me appreciate the film's existence and her motivation for making it. But it didn't make me enjoy it any more or make me want to ever revisit it.
Grade: B+