Viena and the Fantomes

This movie is more of a cautionary tale than anything else. I was drawn to it by the incredible cast and after watching it, I found my s/o and I talking about the scenes for the next few days, analyzing, questioning, critiquing. Yes, the film dropped the ball on backstory..but maybe that was the point. We were supposed to follow this girl in this moment in time and that's it. Dakota Fanning (not Ellie, as another reviewer mistakingly called her) was phenomenal as Viena and her love triangle outlined the harrows of an abusive relationship juxtaposed next to a functional and passionate one. I was left wanting to see more of the band and yes, I craved that back story, but I was happy with the result of this movie. Frank Dillane and Caleb Landry Jones were exceedingly fun to watch, as usual. For those who say it meanders, I think that's the point. It escapes from you and with you. And who doesn't love a happy ending?

I rented this movie being a fan of Evan Rachel Wood. I made it through the first half hour before I was done. Boring with little discernible plot. Evan didn't have a major role and there is a major lack of character introduction. We are just dropped into a road tour with some random musicians. Save your money.

To start telling the story of this film, would be useless because there is no story. If you can a girl who hangs out with the members of a band in their trailer in the middle of nowhere a story. I don't think there is one single good thing to say about it, in spite of the group of talents in it, the script is beyond bad, so it's just a complete waste of time.

In downbeat rock drama "Viena And The Fantomes" Dakota Fanning joins a rag-tag crew of roadies / assistants (inc Frank Dillane (Deppesque) & Evan Rachel Wood) supporting a mid-rate new-age punk band (inc Jeremy Allen White, Caleb Landry Jones & Zoë Kravitz) while on the road on tour. Amid tawdry sex, drugs & rock 'n' roll Fanning's torn between Dillane & Allen White as the darker, seedier, mysoginistic, even violent side of the band emerges (esp through Landry Jones & dubious manager Jon Bernthal). It's well performed by the fine cast, and written & directed in original punchy style by Gerrado Naranjo, yet still feels rather inconsequential in the end.

The music industry is full of abusive people and systems that enable them. I think Evan Rachel Wood is very intentionally in this film. If you know anything about her relationship with Brian Warner it seems obvious that she took this role because of her experience touring with Marilyn Manson when she was a teenager. Unlike other rock god fantasy movies, this one shows you how mundane, sad, and ultimately dangerous these situations can be. I don't get why this film has been rated so low. Maybe people just don't want to lose the illusion?