"Pieces of a Woman" seems to be exactly what many others are saying about it: a partly well-acted movie that would've made for a decent 30-minutes short film followed by more than an hour and a half that's not as compelling. I don't have much to add to that because this is generally superficial filmmaking wallowing in grief that inevitably falters into melodramatics, including yelling and speechifying--even a speech in a courtroom that rather ruins what was otherwise a powerful moment involving a photograph of the mother with her newborn. Even the some-20-minutes long take, technically impressive though it is, of the birth scene is more showy than profound. After the title appears 30 minutes in, though, and beyond the credits appearing letter by letter (in pieces, in other words--get it) and sequences divided by gaps in time (more pieces), the picture is exceedingly uncomplicated in construction. It becomes mere dull melancholy. Long with ruminative shots, but nothing intelligent to think about.
But, sure, Vanessa Kirby plays quiet grieving with the best of them, especially when not required to suddenly emote excessively to demonstrate that grief. On the other hand, Shia LaBeouf goes the other typical direction in these movies, of booze, drugs and abusive outbursts and which is not helped at all by the star's real-life notoriety for the same. I suppose I prefer to see him in stuff not involving Transformers but this character is too far over-the-top in opposition to Kirby's relative restraint. Nothing particularly interesting is done with his job in bridge construction, either, beyond the obvious metaphor of "resonance" that their marriage clearly doesn't have. Although, I'm not even sure what Kirby's Martha does in her job except for perhaps that she received an office because, as evidenced by her entitled mother (Ellen Burstyn), she comes from money. Although I wouldn't be surprised if Burstyn, along with Kirby, receives awards attention, her character is nearly as "boorish" as LaBeouf's and is given dementia in the script because, I don't know, the filmmakers seemed to have forgotten to end the movie in a timely manner. "Pieces of a Woman" is a long slog with no payoff.
But, sure, Vanessa Kirby plays quiet grieving with the best of them, especially when not required to suddenly emote excessively to demonstrate that grief. On the other hand, Shia LaBeouf goes the other typical direction in these movies, of booze, drugs and abusive outbursts and which is not helped at all by the star's real-life notoriety for the same. I suppose I prefer to see him in stuff not involving Transformers but this character is too far over-the-top in opposition to Kirby's relative restraint. Nothing particularly interesting is done with his job in bridge construction, either, beyond the obvious metaphor of "resonance" that their marriage clearly doesn't have. Although, I'm not even sure what Kirby's Martha does in her job except for perhaps that she received an office because, as evidenced by her entitled mother (Ellen Burstyn), she comes from money. Although I wouldn't be surprised if Burstyn, along with Kirby, receives awards attention, her character is nearly as "boorish" as LaBeouf's and is given dementia in the script because, I don't know, the filmmakers seemed to have forgotten to end the movie in a timely manner. "Pieces of a Woman" is a long slog with no payoff.