Cassie Thomas is a 30 year old, medical school drop out, living with her parents working in a coffee shop. While there is nothing wrong with that, she was deemed 'promising' therefore people around her look down on her. Back in school her friend Nina was involved in a sexual assault. Cassie is now on a rampage trying to take justice into her own hands and revenge those who have done wrong to Nina. We pick up the story with Cassie pretending to be drunk in a bar alone, a man then takes her back to his apartment and proceeds to take advantage/ sexually assault her. Cassie stops the drunk act and confronts the man on his behaviour, where he then back tracks, and says he's a nice guy, etc, etc. Cassie has done this repeatedly for years. While in the coffee shop, an old school friend, Ryan comes into the shop and takes an interest for Cassie. However hearing the names of people in the school prompts Cassie to start to track down and revenge the people involved in Nina's assault.
First off the bat, I notice the soundtrack straight away, as Boys by Charli XCX is playing, but a different instrumental version. It pricks up my ears and makes me notice some of the excellent choices made. We have some great songs included like, 2 Become 1 by the Spice Girls, It's Raining Men by The Weather Girls, Stars Are Blind by Paris Hilton and Toxic by Britney Spears. The scene near to the end of the film where Toxic is used, I believe they use it in the trailer as well. But its an alt instrumental version which focuses on the violin string section, it creates so much drama and intensity to an already intriguing scene. Just a wonderful use of a popular song to create tension.
As for the storyline, there was a clear message running throughout and that was obviously around the subject of sexual assault. You can't help but think how many girls this happens to which goes under the radar/ brushed under the carpet. The men who are doing these disgusting acts, in this movie are portrayed as quote on quote 'nice guys' and well put together, even doctors. There's conversations where the act of the sexual assault is blamed on the woman, saying how could she let herself get drunk and vulnerable, and that she's 'asking for it'. This male dominated society has warped up into blaming assault on the victim.
Carey Mulligan takes the role as Cassie, bare in mind I've just seen her in 'The Dig', this character is a thousand miles away from what she portrayed in that film. She's striking but also the girl next look, sweet but can switch. She is quite mysterious because at first we don't know why she is the way she is until the story plays out a bit more. She is able to be both enticing but cold at the same time, and there is a lot of anger stored up from the trauma. She is able to keep that sweet and sour character up with Ryan, played by Bo Burnham and he does what he does best and is a funny guy. Some of his lines are delivered in a way which are subtly funny, but also shows how well this script was put together. Emerald Fennell both wrote, directed and produced this film, and for me to notice how good the script was means that it was good. Fennell was able to balance the thriller atmosphere along with some comedic moments, it worked so well and the vibrant pastel colours made it very easy on the eye to watch.
Promising Young Woman is a breath of fresh air. Everything from it's script, delivery, pace and colouring was excellent. The message was at the forefront but it didn't feel pushy. The sequence style was enjoyable and Cassie seeking revenge was satisfying to watch. There is a shocking twist at the end which is crazy, I won't spoil it but it definitely shook me. I was very impressed with this film and it is right up there with the best films watched this year.
Rating 10/10
By Leanne
I'm going to start by saying that I'm certain this will be one of my films of the year and I implore literally everyone to check this out. This was one of the only Oscar nominees that I had actually heard of this year. There was a lot of buzz surrounding this film after a Variety review basically claimed that Margot Robbie would have been better suited for the role as Carey Mulligan wasn't 'hot enough' to pull it off! To have the audacity to blatantly insinuate something like this, especially given the subject matter of the film, is insane! She, rightfully so, soon received an apology! This film was already something that I was excited about but after hearing how Mulligan dealt with the review, I was extra prepared to watch!
The film revolves around Cassie who is a Promising Young Woman. After dropping out of med school, Cassie took a job at a coffee shop and still lives with her parents - much to the disappointment of them and others she meets along the way who seem disappointed by her 'wasted' potential. We are quickly introduced to just how clever Cassie is when we see her out in a bar seemingly very drunk. It's quickly revealed that she isn't drunk at all and is, in fact, out 'testing' the local men on their treatment of seemingly drunk women. There are many of these scenes throughout the film and they are both incredibly rage-inducing but also so satisfying when she eventually reveals her ulterior motive. There are moments of sheer disbelief as the audience watches time and time again as men prey on a seemingly vulnerable Cassie: pouring her triple measures, telling her just how vulnerable she is by drinking so much and sexually assaulting her. It's scary that this is all too real for many women and really drives home the message and is all too familiar with law suits that have often turned the blame on women for 'asking for it' and wearing clothes that are 'too revealing.' This is flipped when Cassie reveals that she's not drunk at all and that the men have been taking advantage of a sober woman who will remember everything the next morning. The first fourth wall break when the audience first learn this is, honestly, incredible! It's soon revealed that this 'mission' that Cassie is on has something to do with her friend Nina. It's not explicitly stated what happened until later on in the film but is made very clear from the offset what's coming.
From the very opening moment, I knew I would love this film. It opens to a club scene with Charli XCX's, very applicable, Boys loudly playing over the top. This is the first song in - what I can only call - an incredible soundtrack and score. The soundtrack goes from strength to strength. I appreciated the use of Spice Girls' 2 Become 1 quietly playing in the background of a cab as a seemingly very drunk Cassie is seduced by a sleazy guy who promised to get her home safe. There are so many excellent moments that are made even more so by the score. The use of an alternative version of Raining Men performed by Death by Romy is an excellent touch. There are also great tunes including Uh Oh by Cyn, Paris Hilton's Stars are Blind (used fantastically over a montage of Cassie and Ryan's relationship), Angel of the Morning, and Something Wonderful from the King & I. The use of an instrumental version of Toxic is also used fantastically to add extra tension and build up the drama of what becomes the final act of the film. Finally, it wouldn't be right to leave out the final track which is Last Laugh by Fletcher which just perfectly ties everything together.
The film is split into five chapters. Each chapter leading to a focus on one specific person that played a role in Nina's story. The slow reveal of what really happened to Nina throughout the chapters and the thought that so many people could have changed her course is so interesting to think about. The story builds nicely with the increasing intensity of the chapters. As I've said, this film has so many moments that will infuriate and this increases as the chapters go by. The story follows the chapters of each person involved, an old college friend who brushes things off as 'people won't believe you if you have a reputation for sleeping around', a college dean who doesn't believe 'in ruining a young man's life' and in 'innocence until proven guilty', a lawyer whose job is to collect as much dirt as possible on young women until they have enough to turn a jury against them and finally the young men directly involved who claim they 'were kids' but are, in fact, grown college adults. Cassie's actions towards each of these people are amazing; putting them into the shoes of Nina without putting them into any real danger - it suddenly puts everything into perspective and the characters very quickly change their tunes. Emerald Fennell, who wrote, directed and produced this film, has an awful lot to say and it's undoubtedly worth tuning in to listen.
Despite the Variety review, I think the Carey Mulligan stepped up and played Cassie perfectly. I loved the way she broke the fourth wall and played the role of a woman who's dealt with her fair share of shit. It's not a role that I would have associated Mulligan with as I'm used to seeing her in complete 180° roles like her roles in An Education and The Dig. I think her performance in this film consolidates her versatility. Alison Brie plays an old friend Cassandra. Her scenes in the film are amazing. There is a scene where Cassie gets her drunk and interrogates her on memories from their college days and the way that Brie's character begins to squirm is amazing. I also have to shout out Bo Burnham who plays Cassie's 'love' interest Ryan. He often brings a comic relief to the role but turns out to have a much more important role in the film and in the social commentary than expected. As he is pitched as the 'nice guy' throughout the whole film, I felt it was good twist when it turns out that he was a bystander and witness to Nina's sexual assault. The way that his character is used to make a point about bystanders and those people that claim 'not all men' but don't call out toxic behaviour or comments is incredible.
The social commentary in this film is scathing. Some reviewers feel that it's too late in the wake of the #MeToo movement that shook up Hollywood a few years ago but I disagree and feel that it's important than ever to keep the conversation alive and call out the behaviour patterns and beliefs that are, often, so ingrained into society. The film name is thought to be a reference to the Brock Turner case and how he, despite being found guilty, was constantly referred to in the media as a 'promising young man' and his victim? 'An intoxicated woman.' I'll leave you with these thoughts - why is it that we know his name and story but not the name or the story of his victim Chanel Miller? Why did her intoxication even play a role in the case?
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