Joe Keery, it seems I’ve grown quite fond of you...
What it's about
Recently incarcerated deadbeat Baron strikes a friendship with his new cellmate Otis, a man known for his numerous prison breaks. While hatching a plan to escape, Baron tells Otis the story of how he met Marmalade, who he deems the girl of his dreams, and the Bonnie and Clyde robbery they did in order to get the life they’ve dreamed of.
The take
At first, Marmalade just seemed like a good ol’ fashioned Bonnie and Clyde story being told by one inmate to another. As Baron tells Otis about his titular Bonnie in Joe Keery’s Southern drawl, there’s a charming bittersweet romance about a man pushed into crime because of healthcare costs and a compelling Camila Marrone as a manic pixie dream girl-flavored femme fatale. By its own, it’s already an intriguing twist to the film noir plot. But the second half turns this romance into something completely unexpected, pulling an insane set of interconnected plot twists that’s just fun to experience. There are certain moments that could have been tighter, but the performances were great, the images were stunning, and the plot was surprising. It’s such a daring move for first time writer-director Keir O'Donnell.
What stands out
The plot twists. For the sake of spoilers, we won’t be discussing any details, but these plot twists switch the entire film around and neatly resolves any plot hole left hanging after the first half.
Comments
Add a comment
Your name
Your comment
UP NEXT
UP NEXT
UP NEXT
More like this in
Once Were Warriors (1994)
A Maori family survives in an alienating Auckland in this raw, tragic drama
8.0
Silenced (2011)
A brutal and harrowing exposé of the schoolwide abuse case that sparked outrage in Korea
9.0
My Old Ass (2024)
A pleasant mix of comedy and coming-of-age that may or may not leave you in tears
8.0
Being Julia (2004)
A middle age crisis leads to a star finding her spark in this insightful comedy
7.1
The Substance (2024)
Demi Moore swaps bodies in this standout chaotic body dysmorphia horror
8.3
Look Back (2024)
Art connects people through time and space in this short and sweet drama
9.0
The President (2014)
A dictator and his grandson try to escape the revolution in this bleak, satiric drama
7.3
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)
A star-studded and riveting legal drama with a blockbuster feel.
8.1
The Guilty (2018)
A minimalist, razor-sharp thriller that will have you gasping for air.
9.0
System Crasher (2019)
A tale of trauma and one of the most talked about movies on Netflix in 2020.