Probably the best drama you’ll see this year, the two leads are deserving of honors and a director Oscar nod should also be in the offing for the film Lizzie. Sure it’s a little early to be predicting anything movies, but when you see the film with is ominous music and deliberate slow tempo you’ll be captivated, if not spellbound. Very rigid and thorough in its depiction of the true story, you may even be shocked by the very disturbing ending. With very few movies in 2018 that can even hold a candle to this movie, don’t miss this chance to see one of the best.
It’s 1892 New England where we find Lizzie Borden (Chloe Sevigny), who suffers from epilepsy, leading a sheltered life. Due to her frequent seizures, she has shied away from many people and there’s very few around her who could be called a friend. With the absence of a housemaid at the Borden residence, Bridget Sullivan (Kristen Stewart) a disadvantaged young woman, gets hired by Lizzie’s father Andrew Borden. Led to a small room in the large mansion by Lizzie’s Stepmother Abby Borden (Fiona Shaw), Bridget is told she will be called Maggie. Also living in the huge estate house is Lizzie’s sister Emma (Kim Dickens), a normal child who has not had the problems that have faced sister.
During the months ahead, Bridget and Lizzie become friends and Lizzie fends for her whenever she sees ill treatment. After several instances, including daily involuntary sex by her father upon Bridget, several disturbing messages appear at the Borden house. With her mother turning a blind eye on the sex, Lizzie feels she must intervene. When she overhears something that may affect her in her father’s will involving Lizzie’s Uncle John (Denis O’Hare), her ire turns red.
The film goes on from their picking up speed as the movie gets into the meat of the true story. Director Craig William Macneill does an excellent job of plot development making the film very gripping by not giving too much of the mystery away. Even if you know the story or the poem that kids back in the day used to chant while jumping rope, there’s a lot more to the story that comes to light in this biography before he reveals the grisly details. This may be Macneill’s first wide release, but it shouldn’t be his last, I haven’t seen anything thus far in 2018 that can beat his storytelling.
Taking the lead role of Lizzie, Chloe Sevigny turns up the burner on the young woman who wants to break free from her father’s suffocating her and nasty deeds. She shows Lizzie’s determination to separate from her father, but hot having the means, she bewildered and overwrought. She makes this film work showing Lizzie’s strong will and passionate desires.
As the needy Bridget, Kristen Stewart gives a brilliant performance showing a cunning side of the housemaid. She knows that she must keep her job with the Borden’s and will do anything to keep it, including allowing Andrea Borden to rape her repeatedly. Aware that Lizzie may know of the indiscretion, she adds fuel to the daughter’s hatred that churns within her. The two actresses work well together and give the film an impressive lift to excellent.
Lizzie has been rated R by the MPAA for violence and grisly images, nudity, a scene of sexuality and some language. The nudity is shocking and unexpected. It also has a couple of scenes of implied rape that becomes unsettling.
FINAL ANALYSIS: An excellent film with a lot of shock value. (5 out of 5 Stars)
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Chloe Sevigny, Kristen Stewart, Jamey Sheridan, Fiona Shaw, Kim Dickens, Denis O’Hare and Jeff Perry
Directed by: Craig William Macneill
Written by: Bryce Kass
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama
MPAA Rating: R for violence and grisly images, nudity, a scene of sexuality and some language
Running Time: 1 hr. 45 min.
Opening Date: September 21, 2018
Distributed by: Saban Films
Released in: Standard
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
