Ámame hasta con las uñas

The most interesting film I've watched this year, that's for sure. "Fingernails" is nothing you'd expect -- it's got this test on love (quite literally) that will make you bite your nails, and your fingers, and close your eyes in the moment. With an A24-coded story concept that is weirdly satirical, it's one that has a satisfying tale of romance, an exploration of uncertain feelings, and what it means to crave that feeling. Both Jessie Buckley and Riz Ahmed have the perfect dynamic on-screen that I just cannot get enough of. These two are some of the very few actors I utterly admire and respect and so seeing them together in this film was something I really enjoyed. Everything was beautiful and entertaining in a way that would lure you into its world; with a production design that is just mesmerizing, and a soundtrack that perfectly fits with the characters' emotions. A perfect grasp of the desire for what "love" really depicts, and a perfect character study on a flawed character who is unsure of her feelings, while putting all her fate on a love test.

Yes, I watched this solely because Jessie Buckley starred. But after the disappointing damp squibs of Saltburn and Maestro I needed a decent cinema fix. And I got it.

Don't get me wrong the story of testing love by burning torn-out fingernails is a tad silly, but Buckley and Ahmed manage to bring it to life. Buckley is excellent as Anna, a girl who can't make up her mind who she loves.

For me the story was that you can find what you think is love, until you realise that perhaps it's a deep comforting sameness that you're in love with. A ritualistic familiarity that makes you feel safe. The familiar face at the end of the sofa is symbolic of home and it takes a big wrench to realise that that face doesn't make you 'want' anymore.

Along comes a handsome prince and all is lost. Because love so often comes on the back of desire. Anna found that she desired someone that she didn't love, but does love grow from desire? Without desire you simply have a best friend. With desire you have what we mostly believe of as love.

It's a complicated tale with not any easy answer. But it made for interesting viewing and was thought provoking about how we love and desire.

If this story had been well written, I'd have liked the leads together very much. Sadly, it was not well written. I'm a scifi geek and I normally can suspend disbelief and don't care about the science, nor the premise, all that much. In this case, the way this story is written, a five year old child would question the test. I agree with other reviewers that the fact that none of the film's own characters question it strains the disbelief several steps too far, particularly considering how low tech this particular method of this trope is portrayed here. Since most of the characters appear miserable (agree with 'bleak world'), it's extremely depressing and drags on so badly. I cannot imagine a GOOD reason to watch this film. Further, if a large number of people watched it together, say in a theater, I would suggest putting the group on suicide watch.

Sufficient, only for the presence of Jessie Buckley, who is truly magnificent! The film is along the lines of that little masterpiece that is Perfect Sense, but much simpler, not superficial but... too simple. Let's say it could be a good episode of Black Mirror, but nothing more. The direction and acting are very good, but it's all too clear from the start. Slow film, at times soporific, but not boring, full of good intentions, but never takes flight. At least they avoided honeyed and ridiculous scenes. The plot is a little ridiculous, but perhaps it is intentional, a metaphor of how the modern generation uses technology not to help itself, but to guide its own life, entrusting its own free will to dubious scientific theses relating to the human soul, at least as the film shows them. Jessie Buckley is beautiful!!!

Not sure why I decided to watch this, I'm normally a sci fi guy, maybe it's because it was on Apple so knew quality would be up there, maybe I though it had a science fi edge from the 'testing' , or maybe I just fancied something different.

Well I got all of that and more. Jessie Buckley absolutely delivered a superb, real and emotional performance....i could feel every tug on heartstrings I didn't know I had anymore. Great performances from all 3 leads, but Jessie....just wow, I really hope this launches her career to bigger things, she deserves it after that.

Oh and the music was superb.....well done production team.