Frances Ha Review

Frances Ha

3.5 stars out of 4

By Brett Takeshita

Every year, small under-the-radar indies come out that surprise Hollywood. These films, which are not expected to generate big bucks at the box office, end up being successful and finding an audience. Frances Ha is such a movie. In its past few weeks of limited release, it has had one of the highest per-theater grosses at the box office. It's doing extremely well with both critics and audiences, and for good reason. Frances Ha is one of the most charming, joyous, and real films of the year.

Frances Ha tells the story of -- you guessed it -- Frances (Greta Gerwig), a 27 year old dancer living in New York. She's trying to navigate her way through life and pursue her dreams, even though the odds are against her. She can't seem to find a permanent place to live, so the film follows her as she moves from apartment to apartment. (The film is broken up into segments, with each segment beginning with the address of her home at the moment). Frances dreams of becoming a successful dancer, but she has difficulties booking gigs with her company. Frances has a best friend named Sophie (Mickey Sumner). They tell each other everything and hangout constantly because they love each other. But sadly, they go their separate ways once Sophie gets more serious with her boyfriend. Thus, Frances faces a series of obstacles that attempt to knock her down. However, Frances won't be beat. She's an optimist, and she's willing to go the distance to find true happiness.

Based off of my summary, you might think that Frances Ha is a cliched mess. In fact, you are partially correct. This film doesn't really bring much knew to the table, story-wise. It also has a messy structure since it deals with a mishmash of particular moments instead of a coherent whole. Frances Ha might sound like "White Girl Problems" the movie, which is kind of true. It's drawing comparisons to HBO's Girls, even though it's much tamer than the raunchy television series. However, don't let these notions and perceptions steer you away from this film. To miss out on Frances Ha would be sinful.

Director Noah Baumbach is known for making "dramedies" that are truthful and inciteful. Frances Ha is both of these things, but it's lighter and funnier than some of Baumbach's other films. He co-wrote this film with lead actress Greta Gerwig, and their script is outstanding. It's witty, funny, and lovely, and just like real life, it is also sad and painful. Instead of being too cutesy like some expect it to be, Frances Ha has just the right amount of darkness (which might actually make you cringe) to make it realistic. Baumbach directs this film with excellence. He knows when to make the film feel natural and real, and he also knows when to make it seem fairy-tale-like. He chose to shoot the film in beautiful black-and-white, which gives it an extra flair that's fun and refreshing. However, the most astonishing thing about Baumbach's direction is his tonal mastery. He strikes the right note each time. The comedy is genuinely funny, and the drama can sting. A lesser director might have made this film into a jumbled mess -- both structurally and tonally -- but Baumbach proves that he's a director who is here to stay.

Frances Ha solidifies Greta Gerwig as a star. She has to carry the film because she is in every scene of the movie, and here, she is absolutely phenomenal. Her comedic timing is impeccable and her likability is through the roof. Even when Frances does some things that are abhorrent, we as an audience always feel the need to cheer her on. We can't help but identify with this complex character. We genuinely want her to succeed, and this is largely due to Gerwig's fantastic performance. Gerwig lives and breathes this character, and we always feel that Frances is a real person. It's astonishing. We also get very fine performances from Sumner and the rest of the supporting cast, which includes talented newcomers such as Michael Esper, Adam Driver, and Michael Zegen. The supporting cast brings its "A-game" to each scene, and each of the actors has such wonderful chemistry with Gerwig and the others. Most importantly, these actors' interactions with Gerwig make the film feel so real and charming.

Frances Ha is a small film that deserves to be sought out in theaters. It's a lovely and warm film that put a smile on my face throughout its entirety. Its infectious joy is wonderful. I imagine that this film will strike a chord with many young adults due to its relatable characters and world. And as a partial side note, the "Ha" of the title is not explained until the very last shot, but once it is, you will be surprised by its tremendous power. (Some even admit to getting a litle choked up by the ending). It's the perfect ending that will surely resonate with audiences. Frances Ha is a gift of a film that I won't soon forget. Three and a half stars out of four.