Review: Fifty Shades Freed (2018)

9 Responses to Review: Fifty Shades Freed (2018)

1. Nicola says:

   February 9, 2018 at 3:22 pm

   You know I love Dakota and I still think she is wonderful in these. And I don’t have any of the contempt many have for these silly movies. I like it for what it is and have fun watching them with girlfriends. And as much as I like Jamie Dornan I TOTALLY agree with you about him as Christian. I thought maybe the first one was rough because it was late casting and he didn’t have a lot of prep time, but he just kind of never worked for me in the role. He is so very attractive though. “Freed” was my least favourite of the three though. It really felt like just a bunch of strings linked together with pop songs.

   Reply
   • sheila says:

     February 12, 2018 at 8:06 am

     Nicola – she is definitely wonderful. she actually seems real – in the midst of all this artificiality. I don’t WORRY about her either, like I do with some younger actresses, where I’m concerned they might be being exploited, or whatever. I don’t worry about her at all. She seems to know what she’s doing, and treats it with the appropriate amount of seriousness and also humor.

     and yeah, Dornan … he’s so inhibited, it’s weird. I didn’t realize it was late casting.

     It’s interesting to watch him in The Fall – have you seen that? It’s not a spoiler to say he plays a serial killer – there’s no ambiguity about “who done it” – and he’s pure psycho, but also a manipulative narcissist – who is capable of living a completely double life. Husband/father and then creepo psycho. and he’s really good at this.

     But Christian requires you see his warmth, his woundedness, his flaws … you’re supposed to be intimidated by him, but then drawn to him – like she is. and Dornan somehow doesn’t pull that off.

     I don’t know the timing of all this off the top of my head – if he was cast based on how good he was in The Fall? But maybe all he can do is the creepy cool psycho, and can’t bring out those other elements, like warmth or humor or love or whatever else.

     “Freed” is definitely the weakest – and (for me) it’s because the sex takes a back seat. It’s just not about the sex and so everything becomes totally conventional. What’s interesting is the fantasy of this young woman entering a totally unfamiliar world and finding it attractive, hot, etc. Somehow that was lost here.

     but you know I’m with you on Dakota!!

     Reply
     • Nicola says:

       February 12, 2018 at 12:59 pm

       I haven’t seen “The Fall” yet. But I want to soon. I’ll have to get on that soon.

       I’m not sure about the timing of it all, but Charlie Hunnam was originally cast as Christian and he dropped out like a month before production.

       I’m so excited to see where Dakota’s career goes from here. She’s one of my favourites.

       Reply
       • sheila says:

         February 13, 2018 at 12:35 pm

         wow, Charlie Hunnam. I really like him. He might have been able to bring that depth, that troubled depth, that Dornan doesn’t seem able to do.

         He’s really good in The Fall, but that requires a much more limited set of skills for an actor.

         Reply
         • Lyrie says:

           February 13, 2018 at 3:32 pm

           Not to derail yet another conversation, but have you taken a look at Sons of Anarchy by any chance? :)
         • sheila says:

           February 13, 2018 at 5:10 pm

           I haven’t! I know, I know I need to. Sadly (or – happily) I have just got sucked into Broadchurch.
         • Lyrie says:

           February 13, 2018 at 5:22 pm

           Oooh, Broadchurch! I’ve only seen season 1. Watched it at the time as Top of the Lake. Fun times.

           Well, you don’t need to, but it would make me very very happy to have conversations about the writing, the awesomeness of Charlie Hunnam, the presence of half the cast of Deadwood, Ireland, Harleys, Charlie Hunnam’s butt, Shakespeare, masculinity, feminine solidarity (or lack of) in a masculine world, accents, Americana, the characters I’m in love with, …
           OK, I’ll stop. I could go on.
2. Lyrie says:

   February 10, 2018 at 11:56 am

   I have absolutely no opinions about Fifty Shades, but I sure love reading your reviews. When I saw the poster in the metro I thought “I hope Sheila reviews it.” Ha!

   Reply
   • sheila says:

     February 12, 2018 at 8:02 am

     hahahaha

     They are really fun to review.

     I am amazed that people take them so seriously to get all concern-troll about it. They’re fantasies. They’re not MY fantasies but CLEARLY they are the fantasies of many many people. Getting bent out of shape about other people’s fantasies is one definition of puritanism. What a waste of time! What’s that quote from Mencken – “puritanism is the haunting fear that someone somewhere is happy.” I butchered it, but it’s along those lines.

     It’s kind of like the whole “Dean as sensitive barista” fantasy. It is so not how I fantasize – it is not pleasing to me at all – but obviously it’s attractive to many many people. If it makes you happy to write a 20-chapter fanfic about Dean as sensitive barista – then … have fun. I’m happy when people have fun, jeez louise.

     But still: there’s something really wrong with the execution of 50 Shades. Jamie Dornan just seems totally lost. Hot body though!

     Reply

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