romulogomes1996-114-875109
Great cast, great directing, great songs, great lyrics, great movie. I always loved Emily Browning but here she totally showed her talent for acting, and surprise... singing. Loved her voice, and the character she played. Olly Alexander, i have to say i never heard of him but now i hope i do hear more from him, cuz he did such a great acting here. I could really feel related to him, to his voice singing and to his huge love for Eve. Hanna Murray i know her from Game of Thrones, and i never saw anything special about her, but in this movie, even though she cant sing, i wasn't feeling bored while seeing her and listening to her. Probably cuz the director did get the camera from great points of view, but even so,she was really good, and even if i didn't liked her voice i really felt that she was part of the band and that this is where she belonged. This three young people even though they were different, they're friendship was something that could never be broken. Ever.
SpookyPie88
Having seen God Help the Girl evolve from it's Kickstarter roots to its coming together as an actual film; I was really looking forward to the final completion. The trailer alone seemed to promise a charming little story of a fledgling pop group and the quirks of its individual members.Though attractive and feel-good, the actual film was a bit disappointing. The music seems to pop up randomly and awkwardly, serving little purpose to the story, and the choreography is clumsy. Some parts of the musical numbers are almost embarrassing to watch. Even the wonderful Emily Browning just resorts to a doe-eyed pouting when singing the songs, as they are often unrelated to the scene and I presume she was left clueless as to how else to perform them.The non-musical moments aren't much better. The scenes don't run smoothly from each other. For example, one moment the band are infuriated at their lack of progress. They have songs, but they have yet to perform any of them. Yet, upon advertising for members they are chased by an enthusiastic mob of auditionees. It creates a fun scene but it came from nowhere and then leads nowhere.A French love interest for Eve is another redundant theme. Nothing is offered to the plot and nothing is gained. He disappears just as unnoticeably as he entered. Later on, Eve gets wasted and parties around town with a dancer who only appears for that one scene, another confusing addition.Where the film shines is in the moments where the band members just live their lives and dream. There is a lovely scene in which Eve, Cassie and James take a boat trip, talk frivolously and drink wine. Later on, they play in an outdoor gym whilst discussing their intentions for their band . And another scene at the pool when they debate David Bowie's place in a girl's coming of age. Sweet moments that endear us to the film and the characters.But, for all these moments, the main characters of Eve, Cassie and James are only ever touched upon superficially. We get that Eve is troubled, James is a dreamer and Cassie is child-like. But that is all we get.In the final scenes Eve overdoses, and the only thing this serves to the film is her awakening that the band isn't good enough for her. At the end Eve just gets on a train and leaves, bored of the band and their music. The relationship established throughout the film just thrown away, and it leaves the film to crumble around it. At the end of the film we are exactly where we were at the beginning, and it feels like a monumental waste of time. Having said all of this, I did find the film very cute and watchable. It is sweet and charming, almost twee at times, but I just feel that it could have been so much more than it actually was. I also feel that James and Cassie were the protagonists of this film and that the story would have been better suited to them. It would have been more likable. The film ends with them riding off together on Cassie's tandem bicycle, and we realise too late that we should have been rooting for these two the entire film, and not the selfish and destructive Eve.
Amari-Sali
After Plush, I must admit the idea of Emily Browning playing the role of a musician wasn't a horrible idea. Especially since Skins alumni Hannah Murrah and Olly Alexander are in it. Though with God Help the Girl not having original music, but that of Stuart Murdoch's past work, it does lead you to question if whether this would become another Jack and the Cuckoo-Clock Heart or Sunshine on Leith?Characters & StoryA young girl, a few years out of high school, named Eve (Emily Browning) we meet as she is recovering from anorexia. She seems friendless, her parents never visit, and what lead to her having anorexia isn't explored too much. However, as she recovers she finds she has a talent for writing music. So, upon one of her escapes from the hospital, she asks this singer named Anton (Pierre Boulanger) to give her music to this local DJ.But while her first demo is surely something interesting, it is the music she makes with sort of failed musician James (Olly Alexander) and Cass (Hannah Murray) which is what the film focuses on. For as James and Eve grow close, and Cass is invited along for the ride, you get a nice fluffy film in which we listen to songs dealing with everyday life sometimes spiced with what the members of the cast are going through. All the while, James falls in love with Eve and she finds him to be the one who helps establish the foundation she needs to perhaps pursue music officially. However, when the summer is over, and with Eve feeling well enough to go to college, will their friendship, band, and possible romance end, or is what we see only just the beginning?PraiseThere is so much worth praising in the film. Whether it is things like the costume design, the cute choreography during the songs, or even the songs themselves, there is so much to cover before even talking about the story. Now, to begin with the attire, most of the clothes seem straight out of a Skins episode and really help push the idea that God Help The Girl is a cute little indie band which has a few quirks and a huge reason to be desirable. For while, officially, they only perform one show in the movie, throughout the film we get to see them do almost mini-music videos which show off their quirky style and are choreographed in such a way which will likely remind you of some indie pop group you found out about in your teens which you used to, or still do, obsess over.Then, when it comes to the songs, I must admit I only liked around 85% of the soundtrack. And while some songs aren't loved right off the bat, they do grow on you and the film has a nice progression where most of the 15% which I didn't think were good were only in the beginning. Making it feel that as Eve became a better song writer and the band became a more cohesive unit, you witness the songs becoming better and better.Leaving the story for the last bit of praise. Now, despite Eve dealing with anorexia, there isn't a heavy handed approach to the subject matter. It is more treated as a private struggle than something all consuming. Which isn't to say they make light of the matter, nor is it not a struggle for her featured throughout the film, but what I wish to say is that it isn't the sole thing noted about her character. If anything, it is what helps push her out of her hospital bed and into meeting James and eventually Cass. And with Eve and James' relationship, there are so many cute moments which truly make you swoon, giggle and so badly hope they last forever. Also, to my surprise, while there is quirkiness, and a cute little romance, there are also multiple moments which will make you laugh. Not as much as if this movie was a comedy, but enough to keep you smiling between songs.CriticismWhen it comes to issues with the film, honestly the sole issue I can find is that it feels like we don't get to know the past of any of the characters that well. We get little tidbits of information so that we know they didn't just appear out of thin air, but with Eve having anorexia, and seemingly having quite a life before we met her, it does make you curious to learn more of her back story. Then, as for James and Cass, I wanted to learn more about them since both of their lives, outside of anything dealing with Eve, isn't explored. To the point where honestly you end up feeling like you barely got to know them at all.Overall: Worth SeeingIt seems less and less that I watch something Worth Seeing. However, God Help The Girl is definitely a worth seeing film, though admittedly I thought it would be TV Viewing at first. But with it getting better over time, honestly I am left hoping there is a sequel as much as I wish this was a mini-series. Especially since the main negative thing about the film is that we don't get to know much about the characters' lives before the band, and hardly get to know James and Cass at all. Though with good music, an overall cute story, and it leaving you wanting more, the little bit of negatives certainly don't outweigh the positives. Leading me to say that you should certainly see God Help The Girl, perhaps buy the soundtrack, and definitely share it with your friends!
