Beautiful Creatures

We finally see the one film that has crawled out of wasted lottery money and it is, indeed, a disappointment. Perhaps foreign audiences who want to lap up anything British will enjoy this badly told tale more than I did. Two not-too-bright girls both have violent boyfriends, one of whom accidentally gets killed as the girls are thrown together and try to help each other. They make maladroit attempts to cover up the murder, which is where things go even more wrong. Wanting so hard to be a black comedy thriller along the lines of Shallow Grave or Blood Simple, Beautiful Creatures is ultimately little more than worthy of mid-week TV viewing.

This is a refreshing & darkly humorous, albeit violent, film about women who bond together when things go from bad to worse after they try to help one another. It does have the Thelma & Louise flavor to some extent. None of the men these women in "Beautiful Creatures" are involved are at all redeeming, however. A giddy terror results when they find themselves getting into a deeper and deeper mess. I thought this also had a kind of Scottish feel to it (it's filmed in Glasgow) that reminded me a bit of one of Bill Forsyth's films "That Sinking Feeling." While Forsyth's film was not violent, some people might find "Beautiful Creatures," because of the brutality in it, offensive. Still it's a not often look at the underside of smart women getting involved with some yukky guys and trying hard not to end up destitute & beaten down.

Beautiful Creatures is a British dark comedy about these two women who meet up with each other under undue circumstances and plotted a scheme so that they will come out ahead. It is somewhat funny, with most of the males in the film being their enemy standing in their way. Many of them are portrayed as seedy, opportunist or just plain lowlifes. The women eventually somehow overcomes them all. It is similar to Thelma & Louise, but our heroine are not so innocent themselves, and we have a happy ending.

After watching this film I came away thinking that the filmmakers made this with a smirk on their faces. I know its done in tongue in cheek but this story seems to ramble and then aimlessly wander about, especially towards the end when I had grown tired of this messy story and the film wants to trick you and not end when you think it should. The actions of the two leads are inexcusable and the film uses the fact that they get knocked around to somehow give credence for they're actions. The best reason for watching this film are the two actress's that star. Susan Lynch and Rachel Weisz are engaging enough but its to bad that the material isn't better. Film plays like a second rate version of "Bound" but without the lesbianism. This is a script that really needed a rewrite. A little of everything seems to have been thrown in! Film really has no focus. Too bad, because they have two good actress's that probably could have done something with this material.

It really is hit and miss when you pick up a movie that you,ve never heard of before, but being a fan of Rachael Weiz i thought id give it a go.

I was pleasantly surprised. It turned out to be very watchable and made me laugh my ass off. I love a good mystery/comedy. I thought it was witty and original. I also think it was filmed well for an small time movie. So with great humour, original characters and an interesting plot that keeps you guessing what will happen next i think its a thoroughly enjoyable film.

Not to mention the adorable dog Pluto. He was so friendly it made me wonder whether he belonged to the actress playing its owner.