Jason from MNPP here with our first look at the trailer for Darren Aronofsky's Mother!, or as it's known around these parts That New Michelle Pfeiffer Movie! The exclamation point in the actual title definitely stands for "That New Michelle Pfeiffer Movie!" at least. It's been seven full years since Black Swan came out (I am pretending Noah didn't happen at this point, but perhaps I'll reassess it in another decade) and this feels, at first glance, like similar territory for the director. Watch:
So Jennifer Lawrence is happily partnered with Javier Bardem until Ed Harris and Michelle show up, at which point the walls begin to crumble and swarms of looky-loos come hustling out of the forest? I mean isn't that what happens whenever Michelle shows up somewhere? Let's "Yes No Maybe So" this sucker (and watch me have trouble coming up with the latter two!) after the break...
YES
MICHELLE - I mean, let's just go with the big one up front. MICHELLE, MICHELLE, MICHELLE. My two favorite performances of hers (Batman Returns and Scarface) favor the cruelty of her beauty and this appears to be leaning into that one hard. Did anyone NOT get shivers when she closed in on an apple-cheeked and utterly intimidated J-Law?
Jennifer Lawrence - I know people run hot and cold on Miss Lawrence, and she is coming off her sloppiest p.o.s. to date with Passengers, but I'm big-time in the Pro Camp (she deserved that Joy nomination) and it looks as if Aronofsky is using her baby-doll head and all the innocence that thing can connote in an interesting way.
Darren Aronofsky - As stated I'm super ready to put Noah behind us, so let's get back to the Aronofsky of Black Swan and Requiem For a Dream, the two movies they're using to sell this one with. One bizarre (rock people!) misstep does not a career like his undo.
The Dudes - We all know Darren can get whomever he chooses at this point in his career so of course it's all top-tier talent attached but it's still a real rogue's gallery of faces I love looking at with Bardem, Harris, and Domhnall Gleeson in a quick terrifying flash. (Can adorable ginger Domhnall actually be terrifying? Stay tuned.)
The Score - I'm terrible with keeping track of scores but I'm assuming that is Jóhann Jóhannsson's score we are hearing here, plucking at our nerves ragged, and good grief is it effective.
NO
I am sure that the age difference will play into the script (the casting, with all the leads a good 20 to 40 years older than Lawrence, seems purposeful anyway) but man does Javier look old and haggard in that shot of him in bed immediately following the one of Lawrence's fresh dewy face. I hope Aronosfky has something new to say on the subject but... is there anything new to say on the subject? Younger woman, way older man... why are we still so obsessed with this dynamic?
MAYBE SO
The Plot - Even though this trailer gives away the most basic outline we're still pretty in the dark once it's over, which is great - trailers shouldn't give everything away! But piecing together the bits we are getting is giving me some hardcore Rosemary's Baby vibes (like I'm pretty sure the title is referring to Lawrence herself at this point) and what with Rosemary being My Favorite Movie of All Time I'm always a bit wary when people attempt to scale that particular mountain anymore.
I don't want this to feel just like a riff or a spin on something else, know what I mean? That said Aronosfky (who also wrote the script) is pretty singular when he's firing on all cylinders, so we're not dissuaded, or even close to dissuaded, we're just hoping Mother! is more than the sum of somebody else's parts.
Where do y'all stand? Mother! is out on September 15th.
