Rid of Me

I loved this movie. The movie starts with a scene that is so gross and disgusting… you immediately feel sympathy for the "victim" and wonder how someone could be so horrible to another human being. But then you are taken back to the beginning… way before the previous scene… to a time when everything was going well. It doesn't take long before you begin to like Maris and your feelings get all twisted inside. Who hasn't met the family or friends of a loved one and wonder if you could ever fit in… if they will like you? The music in this movie puts you on the edge of your seat, bracing you for the worst. You begin to realize that you are sympathizing for Maris and not her "victim." You are cheering for Maris. This movie plays on every emotion. Katie O'Grady is wonderful and James Westby has truly created some interesting characters and a great film.

The opening scene, as is mentioned in many reviews, is not the "hook" they intended, and you might click your Roku back to Menu, but give it a chance and this film will break your heart. It's so real and true, I've met all these people, I've even been some of them. The directing is subtle and jumps around like a mosaic, but I got it. And the awkwardness is well done. This is a terrible comparison, but think of the silent, awkward moments in The Office. Instead of being funny, these situations are so cruel but so real and familiar that you believe them. We've all encountered these things at some point, but here, no one steps in for the downtrodden protagonist. She's left out in the cold over and over again. It's one of those films you stay with until the end of the credits.

I enjoyed the movie. The filmography, with long close-ups of faces and eyes, fantasies, and flashbacks or forwards depicted the emotions someone in a similar situation might feel. Watching the film I had, "Oh honey! No! Don't do that!" moments, or, "Oh crap that's awful, I hate it when that happens," and "Pull yourself up by your bootstraps," and "Oh, now that's just degrading, but you probably needed to live through it to get past it," moments. People everywhere have acted out after disappointments and this is a great depiction of someone searching for something both during, and after, an epic loss. The soundtrack was great. I don't know what it cost, but it made me *feel* as much as Titanic ever could, and I assume on a fraction of the budget.

How can this movie have a 3.x rating? It's intense. Meris is a woman that is really in love with her husband. She moves with him to his home town. His friends are mean to her and really rude. The town is full of uptight a**holes. Meris is in love with Mitch and we see her tortured by this life. All is not lost until see meets Trudy. Trudy shows her the light and Meris starts to kick ass. Eyeliner, attitude, living life! Sure she makes mistakes, but survives to find something special just down the road. I love redemption movies. The characters are great and so real. Why is this a 3.x?? This makes no sense!!!! A+++! More people need to see this awesome flick.

This is bound to become a cult hit! At first, it does warn you in a small way that it is going to be dark but when that first awkward moment comes, it is a bit of a shocker.

Then as the movies moves along, you realize that there is a part of you and probably everyone that has been in the protagonist's position of feeling uncomfortable when you realize the person you love is now presenting themselves through the friends they have and the yoke is NOT even.

I will probably watch this flick more than 3 or 4 times as I can already tell that it has a charm, though awkward, that keeps one drawn to seeing it more than once.