Sometimes we all want to be a part of a movement. When a mass group of people seem to be embracing something in droves it tends to peak our interest. I didn’t read a single Harry Potter book but I dove into the film series. Despite a rocky start I ended up loving them for the most part. I missed the boat on The Hunger Games but I embraced the film series and enjoyed the outcome. The one movement that didn’t quite work out was Twilight which had me scratching my head on how those books could be so well received by the demographic after seeing their truly dismal film adaptations.
A similar feeling came over me when I first saw Fifty Shades of Grey, which was the first in a trilogy of popular books from author E.L. James. Admittedly I’m not the target audience for the book or film. Women worldwide flocked to the lurid tale and turned it into a pop culture phenomenon – my mom is included in this and it’s something that still gives me sleepless nights. That being said, I’ll give just about anything a shot so I went into the film adaptation with an open mind. I hoped to see something interesting and maybe get a glimpse into why this concept seemed to gain so much attention.
By the end of Fifty Shades of Grey, I kept wondering how a film about sex could be so boring. It’s a movie that desperately wants to be dirty and naughty but it’s surprisingly way too tame for what it’s trying to sell. Yes, there are sex scenes and plenty of nudity but sex has never seemed so safe despite the fact that the plot wants it to feel dangerous. The central story between the two leads suffers from being boring and that’s by far the most dishonorable offense for a film that is eager to flaunt its sex appeal.
The film’s plot is essentially captured with the most basic description possible. Shy college girl (Dakota Johnson) meets kinky rich dude (Jamie Dornan) who attempts to manipulate her into becoming a submissive to his dominant. That’s basically all the film is about and there could be something interesting at play here but this dynamic is played in its most basic form. Maybe the psychology between these two characters is more interesting in the book but it seems pretty deficient when brought to the screen.
As a window into BDSM (Bondage & Discipline, Dominance & Submission, Sadism & Masochism) it’s pretty idealized and not at all titillating. There is also a disturbing side to this fantasy that makes me wonder why so many women actually got into what the book had to offer. When the participants in a BDSM relationship are well-matched (a dom and a sub), it can be rewarding for both. However, when one is a narcissist control freak and the other is merely looking for a “normal” relationship, things can turn physically and emotionally abusive – which is precisely what happens in Fifty Shades of Grey. In my opinion, there is nothing hot about an interaction like this, especially how it’s presented in the film. It comes off as more sad than arousing.
The acting is a bit of a mixed bag here but a part of me doesn’t want to blame the actors. This is more of an issue of bad writing and how they were directed to play it by director Sam Taylor-Johnson. Dakota Johnson fares the best as Anastasia. She captures the meekness of the role and is believably awkward as she transitions from shy girl to participant in a very twisted relationship. The problem with her, in the end, is that she is also too muted for much of the film and the performance tends to be a bit of a one note but that’s more of an issue of writing rather than her abilities as an actress.
Jamie Dornan has a tougher time bringing Christian Grey to life. He has the look down but I feel like he should channeling a bit more Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale’s role in American Psycho) than he is able to accomplish here. He’s stoic and domineering but also strangely distant. I guess it’s believable that she could fall for him but he lacks a certain punch to make the character work.
There is also an issue of chemistry as well. There is a lot of sex but no heat. I never truly bought them as a couple and there is definitely a lack of passion between the two leads. The chilliness between the actors speaks less of obsession, adoration, or love than it does of indifference. During a bathtub scene when Johnson reclines against Dornan, there’s a palpable sense of discomfort – as if neither of them wants to be there. (Watch their expressions as you give this film another viewing before checking out the sequel.) It’s off-putting and breaks the fantasy almost as thoroughly as recognizing what Fifty Shades of Grey is actually selling.
Despite all my criticisms, there are some good things about the film. The film may not feel sexy but it certainly looks it. This is a beautifully shot film and it’s so sleek that you almost can forgive it for all of its shortcomings. The actors, despite lacking sufficient chemistry, are all photographed beautifully and certainly look their best against an intoxicating backdrop.
The music is also a big selling point. The soundtrack proved to be popular when this film was released and the use of the instantly catchy tunes within the film works for the most part. A slowed down and sexed up version of Beyoncé’s Crazy In Love is featured in the lone sex scene that actually generates a little heat and proves to be the best moment the film has to offer.
I want to be optimistic that Fifty Shades Darker will correct the many issues the first film was plagued with but with a current rotten rating of 9% on Rotten Tomatoes it seems not much was learned from film to film. If you’re looking for a sexually arousing fix you’re better off staying home and perusing late night Cinemax because Fifty Shades of Grey will not give you the release you desire.
Reel Talk gives Fifty Shades of Grey 1 Reel
