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“Don’t Worry Darling” A Surprise


by Kay Curry
Northwest Asia Weekly

Shelley (Gemma Chan) is a power wife. (Photo courtesy of New Line Cinema)

Presenting: An article on “Don’t Worry Darling” that’s actually about the movie, not about whether and why the four main stars are talking to each other.

“Don’t Worry, Darling,” released on September 23, is Olivia Wilde’s second feature film as director (the first being “Booksmart” in 2019). Wilde plays Rabbit, Florence Pugh as Alice, Harry Styles as Jack and Chris Pine as Frank. I’m leaving out a whole bunch of actors here, including Gemma Chan (more on her later!), since these four seem to be the only ones we’ve heard of for the past few weeks, so I hardly want to see the actual movie. I’m glad I did, though, because all the hype it didn’t get was worth it.

It’s like we used to stand and talk like this / Then we looked at each other / But I don’t remember when and where / The clothes you wear are the clothes you wear / The smile you smile was smiling then / But I don’t remember when and where.

Play 1930s music on a scratchy gramophone in a world that’s too good to be true (because it’s always been, isn’t it?) ’50s-inspired. By the way, context changes everything. The same song that gave “When Harry Met Sally” the reverberating New York vibe (selected here) ended the film with a freaking out, watching everyone while driving home — a huge vibe of disbelief.

The ballet under Shelley’s (Gemma Chan’s) direction is more creepy than the usual ballet. (Photo courtesy of New Line Cinema)

Alice is married to Jack. They live an idyllic life in an idyllic neighborhood alongside several couples who live an equally idyllic life, all thanks to the so-called Victory Project — the one Frank runs and where the men work. Alice and Jack seem to really be in love (you’re looking for cracks in no time) and are teased that their passions don’t include kids (most wanted kids are men, every woman should want one or two or seven). Everyone was like “Mad Men” in fancy vintage cars, dresses and drinks. Every night is a party. Men always come home with a freshly combed wife handing them a drink (the first of many; I think they only drink alcohol) as long as everyone is “discreet” and “controlled” “,everything will get better. What’s the opposite of control? Chaos. Frank doesn’t like chaos.

Every morning after the husband leaves, the women do their traditional housewife chores (these are the most satisfying and best-dressed window and tub scrubbers you’ll ever see in your life), listening all the time – apparently voluntarily , so it’s not “1984” – broadcasting propaganda about potential, vision, loyalty, and mission. “What are we doing? Change the world!” With the chores done, it’s time for the ladies to enjoy a Hollywood-style casual day, even if they’re in the desert. They’re pushed back and forth to put on wealthy ballet classes and then go shopping, where they never pay anything, they just take it…they don’t really know and don’t care. All they know is that they never ask questions, like about some crazy friend, or the mysterious project “headquarters” they’re banned from. “The only thing they’re asking… is that we stay in a safe place.”

The ballet class is hosted by Shelley Chen, who most recently played “Cercy” in “The Eternals” and is best known for her role as the impeccable “Astrid” in “Crazy Rich Asians.” (Where’s our sequel, by the way?) You start to know something is going on in ballet class. First, all the other ladies were terrified of Shelley, and second, she chanted, “There’s beauty in control. There’s grace in symmetry,” which is creepy, while women follow their perfect routine.

You know, sooner or later the newcomer will start to break down, start “seeing things that don’t exist,” develop “delusions,” act “hysterical” (a buzzword that’s been used to ignite women for centuries) and run the gamut of victory projects. used in the same way for consistency). This time, it was Alice. She started having strange hallucinations, but she also happened to witness things she wasn’t supposed to see (things explained in the new version conveniently). It’s not just Alice – Jack has the occasional “wake up” moment where he doesn’t remember why he chose to wear a tie, like he wasn’t there when it happened – but Alice is a nosy and will surely make it happen. Get yourself into trouble. She really doesn’t know who to believe, but she does, and is estranged from her best friend Rabbit for “acting like a child” and “destroying” her husband’s career, among other things. She must have known, though, that she didn’t like Frank.

When you are awake, what you think/from your dreams/thoughts have wings/and many things/rarely are what they seem.

There are a few metaphors here, but they’re done in a refreshing way. Ultimately, the question we are asked is, what will we give, or what will we do for happiness? How do we know if happiness is real? Just a tip: it helps if everyone around you shares your thoughts on happiness equally. I won’t say much – this is a true suspense movie and spoilers will ruin it. In the end, nobody is who we think it is, and there are plenty of tricky and satisfying surprises. So try not to worry about who’s dating whom, who’s stealing who’s man from whom, who’s refusing to watch whom during the premiere, or whatever drama they’re putting on, true or false. It would be more interesting to watch a fake/real movie and find out if Alice escaped from the rabbit hole.

Something happens for the first time / It seems to happen again / So we seem to have met before / We laughed and loved / But who knows when and where?

All the lyrics to “Where and When” by Rogers and Hart. “Don’t Worry Darling” is playing at the local theater.

Kay can reach info@nwasianweekly.com.



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