"So may we start?"
Annette follows Henry, a stand-up comedian with a fierce humor, and Ann, an internationally renowned opera singer. Together, under the spotlight, they form a happy and glamorous couple. The birth of their first child, Annette, a mysterious girl with an exceptional destiny, turns their lives upside down in this rock opera. Annette is a special kind of experience. It won't be for everyone as it takes a certain type of watcher to appreciate. The same can be said about the talent behind the screen. Leos Carax directs with his strange and unique style he displayed with his renowned feature Holy Motors. Holy Motors is on some whole other level that also takes a certain watcher to appreciate. Annette isn't anymore accessible as that, the only difference is the bigger stars on screen. But Carax does wonders with this film. It's dripping with style and substance it's hard to ignore. He brings so much life into every scene, because if you can get into the story, it's so much fun. Another thing to note is this was written by Ron and Russell Mael (aka Sparks). Fortunately, I saw Edgar Wright's documentary The Sparks Brothers only at the beginning of summer, so I could understand their style, which pairs nicely with Carax's. The story is over-the-top and self-aware which adds to the fun of it. But at its center, there's an emotional core. By the final act, and final song, it's like you're holding your breath to take it all in (which we're told to do by the narrator at the very beginning).
When it comes to the performances, they all stand out. We have three main actors: Adam Driver, Marion Cotillard, and Simon Helberg. Adam Driver is incapable of giving a performance less than good. This may just be his best yet. He has the job of entertaining us with his comedy and give a frightening performance as we delve deeper into Henry. Marion Cotillard's may only be supporting, but her presence remains even when off screen. She has a light that shines whenever on screen. One of the songs is her telling her life story, and my personal favorite. And Simon Helberg was an amazing surprise. I haven't seen him in much of anything, but he blew me away. Lastly, Devyn McDowell has one scene and one song that's so powerful. For how young she is (maybe 8 years old at most), that one scene is just incredible and almost puts Adam Driver in the corner. They really did wonders with casting.
The budget wasn't too big, but for the production value, it looks pretty good. There's a few different sets that all look good. The standout for me was a scene that takes place on a boat. The costumes are good. One in particular that Marion Cotillard paired with her makeup looks really cool. The camera work is very showy in the best ways. With the well thought out lighting, it looks beautiful all the time. Annette is just one of the coolest movie experiences of the year so far. It's strange and sometimes feels awkward because of it, but I really liked it. Though all of it is weird, if you can get past one aspect of it, you should be good. I can't wait to see it again next week, though nothing will too that theater experience.
