Add to the list Sean Durkin, whose stunning first film,
"Martha Marcy May Marlene," was just released in New York.
Where the hell did this young man come from, and who taught
him to direct? He has the skill and artistic depth of a man twice his age. (He
appears not to be yet 30.) "Martha Marcy May Marlene" is
breathtaking, with a bravura debut performance from Elizabeth Olsen (the Olsen
Twins' younger sister). I'm as excited about this film as I was about
"Drive" a month ago.
The film is a portrait of borderline-madness. Olsen plays a
young woman who is slightly off in everything she does. At times she revels in
her maverick, outcast status; at other times she is racked with anguish over it
and frightened by what she might be capable of and the dangerous forces she
attracts.
She has just escaped from a commune run by a Charles
Manson-type figure, played with eerie, magnetic calm by John Hawkes. So good
(and Oscar-nominated) in "Winter's Bone" last year, Hawkes here is
even better. One can sense that Hawkes is beginning to trust his unique gifts
as an actor.
The woman's escape from the commune occurs early in the
film, so her experiences there are told for the most part in flashback.
Intercut with the flashbacks (the editing is superb) are her experiences trying
to re-establish with her somewhat estranged older sister, played solidly by Sarah
Paulson. The interaction between the sisters is spot-on. Durkin is so good at
capturing family dynamics between adult siblings, who at once know so much and
so little about each other. He also captures the rivalry mixed with deep love
that is so common among adult siblings.
Gradually, Durkin reveals more details about what transpired
at the commune, with several creepy surprises and one horrifying shocker
revealed toward the end. One comes to realize how much danger this young woman
has gotten into and how much danger she is still in. The final scene hints at
even more violence to come.
Underneath all the drama is a quiet, delicate exploration
of a lost soul who cannot manage the whirlwind inside her or the terrible
crosscurrents blowing through her life. At times, Durkin's vision contains some
of the greatest psychological insight that I've ever seen in the cinema. He
wins my vote for Greatest Directorial Debut of 2011 so far. That says a
lot, as this year has seen a number of great debuts.
The weaknesses in "Martha Marcy May Marlene" lie
in the fact that it mostly only hints at insights. It's more of a
sketch than a fully developed painting. Durkin never really digs into any of the wonderful
veins that he taps. He taps a vein here and then moves on to tap another one
there. I think he would develop more as an artist if he mustered the courage to
go beyond hinting at things. His directorial skill is phenomenal. He is a
genius behind the camera and in the coaching of actors. But I think he has some
more development to do as a screenwriter and storyteller.
Despite some weaknesses, "Martha Marcy May
Marlene" is a must-see and a smashing achievement on many levels.
Predictions: The film is a bit too radical and raw to garner
Oscar nominations for Best Picture or Best Director (despite deserving them).
But Elizabeth Olsen will eke out a nomination as Best Actress for several
reasons.
1) Her performance is so good it gives one goosebumps. 2)
Debut performances from young people always excite Oscar voters -- remember
Jennifer Lawrence last year. 3) Olsen is sexy and pretty -- remember Jennifer
Lawrence last year. 4) Last but certainly not least, she has a name with
mass-market cachet that will cause her nomination to become a worldwide news
story.
But, alas, she won't win. Oscar voters like to acknowledge
debut performances, but they don't vote for them as winners very often --
remember Jennifer Lawrence last year.
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