Little Joe: A Flor da Felicidade

Visually appealing but irritating. I don't know if that's what the producers of this were hoping for, and if so they managed to get on my nerves a lot. Everything from the music, to the main characters inability to register what's happening in front of her face. It's basically a film about a plant gaslighting a woman for two hours. I don't know what the film makers were going for and that makes this a bland and slow film

So it's a modern day take on an old sci-fi classic, with a slight twist, fine we understand that quick enough. However, it fails in direction completely, cold acting with warm and pastal colours is just a cliche. The lead actor centre stage and holding the shot whilst (kabuki) music plays (clearly thinks it has something to do with ikebana) gives an ominous feel, REALLY. You care nothing for the characters, why should you, that's the premise of the film. As for the soundtrack, well it is very annoying, a drum here, an asthmatic whistle there, a tin can, what sounds like a box of chihuahua's, just annoys the viewer. The style, it tries but falls flat, the plant is shown in vivid pink, alluding to the passion it feels, the lead actor originally wears bold colours but then the pastoral colours come in later, why they have to wear 70's clothing to allow this when the rest of the film is clearly in the here and now god knows. A typical critics film from a director who believes their own hype finding what they need to find in films as their own lives are one dimensional and so far from a real film goer. Don't even start on the dialogue. A ten minute short would give you a better experience.

The story has an interesting premise, and can be quite suspenseful. However, the pace is super slow, which kills the suspense and momentum. The music and the repeating CCTV shot at the plants get tiresome as well. Overall, I couldn't say I enjoyed it.

Im sure that you have read that this is a more modern retelling of invasion of the body snatchers. Don't think of it that way though. If you compare the 2 then my rating for this would go down. This feels more like a pretentious indie movie rather than a horror. The whole thing being about a flower was interesting, but the characters are boring and uninteresting. Which is disappointing considering that is what is supposed to hold this movie together. There isn't really a satisfying climactic scene that the movie builds up to and there is a ton of build up. The music in the movie was really odd to say the least and sometimes annoying. What can I say, I feel as if I wasted a lot of time on this movie.

Jessica Hausner's chilling psychological thriller is visually masterful however lacks a storyline worthy of it. The dizzying camera shots combined with the ominous and unnerving score creates an element of paranoia from the outset. The colours which are at points quite Wes Anderson esque can beautifully slip into the shadowy under belly of Blade Runner (1982). The film centres on Alice who is a single mum and a dedicated breeder at a corporation which genetically engineers plants. She is working on developing a new breed that will control human emotions. Against company policy, she takes one home as a gift for her teenage son and names it after him but soon, though, she starts to fear it. Films and literature throughout history have dealt with the raw unspoilt beauty of flowers and the untold secrets they might hold. Little Joe carries on this tradition. Although the immortal words "Life will find a way" did pop into my head a few times, the film manages to offer up enough which feels different. The theme of mental health, maybe not fully realised, raises some interesting ideas on the subject and the stigma surrounding it. It is also about relationships, which feels more fleshed out but still perhaps not fully explored.Jessica Hausner's eastern European routes and filmmaking style are at odds with the English setting, leaving the viewer with the impression of a tourist eye view of Britain. The acting which was sometimes deliciously creepy and understated, sometimes fell into mockery and felt quite wooden. The saving grace in regards to the acting was Ben Whishaw who was the stand out performance.