Critics discuss cinema with two films, Drama Queens by Alexis Langlois, a hybrid film with assertive queer aesthetics and Heretic by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, a horrific behind closed doors held by an unrecognizable and terrifying Hugh Grant.
“The Queens of Drama” by Alexis Langlois
2055. Steevyshady, a hyper-botoxed YouTuber, recounts the incandescent destiny of his idol, the pop diva Mimi Madamour, from the height of her glory in 2005 to her descent into hell, precipitated by her love affair with punk icon Billie Kohler. For half a century, these drama queens sang their passion and rage in the spotlight.
In a wildly fun and romantic first feature film, Alexis Langlois hybridizes genres to tell, in a musical comedy style with music by Pierre Desprats, the passion of a pop star and a skinned punk. Drama Queens was presented this year at the Cannes Film Festival’s critics’ week.
Critics’ opinions
- Lucile Commeaux: “I’m quite cautious about the film because I think it’s a divisive object. So, you either love it or you hate it. Me, I’m in the middle, I find myself quite far from that aesthetic and at the same time, it impresses me. But the film is much too long, although it holds up as a feature film. Personally, I didn’t get into the love story. I find it exaggerated and arbitrary, poorly posed from the start. The whole framework on the other hand, the temporal depth of the story carried in particular by a formidable Bilal Hassani. What I like about the film is that it is funny and that from this point of view, it stands out from all queer cinema that is often very serious, very aesthetic. Here, Alexis Langlois brings together lots of very different aesthetics and queer culture. This film made me think of other objects, even if it is not the same register, but which are self-proclaimed feminist films, even before being released, such as for example Emmanuelle by Audrey Diwan whose theoretical character which is a presupposition crushes romantic or novelistic necessity.”
- Philippe Azoury: “Initially, I was quite skeptical about the ability of this ultra-referenced cinema, which has nothing to do with reality and is confined to a world of appearances, to last over the duration of a feature film. But Alexis Langlois and his team completely succeeded. They offer us an unexpected object. Alexis Langlois takes his time to position his film gently and carefully in order to tell what reality TV doesn’t really do: a love story. And I find that he was able, when directing actors – whether Louiza Aura or Gio Ventura – to find a very right tone to exploit the power of his casting, which makes us believe in it, that we is affected. There is really an emotion that comes through. I believe the ambition is twofold. It is at the same time to move, that is to say finally to touch a truth, a universality of the love story, while keeping this point of queer subversion which means that there is a distancing on what the eternity of passionate love stories was like, particularly on the question of violence.”
The film is released in theaters on November 27, 2024.
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“Heretic” de Scott Beck et Bryan Woods
“Heretic” de Scott Beck et Bryan Woods, 2024 – © SND
Two young missionaries from the Mormon Church in a small town in Colorado go door to door in hopes of converting the residents. In the evening, after an unsuccessful day, they decide to knock on the door of an isolated house. It is the charming Mr Reed – played by Hugh Grant – who welcomes them there. But very quickly, the young women realize that they have fallen into a trap. The house is a real labyrinth where they will only be able to count on their ingenuity and their intelligence to stay alive…
Heretic takes shape like a horrific thriller behind closed doors, with a religious backdrop. Masterfully directed by the screenwriters of Without a sound, Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, Hugh Grant delivers an impressive performance, unrecognizable as a fascinating figure of fear.
Critics’ opinions
- Lucile Commeaux: “I’m very tired, I’ll start straight away with that, with what we call elevated horror in the United States, this auteur horror cinema, a so-called independent American cinema which is no longer independent and has truly become the place for the self-proclaimed independent mainstream. Hugh Grant is placed in a setting that resembles him, a kind of visual aberration à la Escher, very playful and interesting. And as long as the mystery remains around this character who seems to come out of Alice in Wonderland, the film is interesting. But as soon as we enter into the unconscious of the film, its deep reasons become seen again and again, it’s a shame.”
- Phlippe Azoury: “There is a clear jubilation on the part of Hugh Grant in playing a great villain. He rubs his jaws for an hour and a half, rolling his eyes. But after a while, the pleasure he takes in it defuses everything effect of terror. What it creates, on the other hand, is an effect of horror and fear. That said, one thing that is interesting in this film is this idea of debate – which I found. A little winded and very demonstrative – on the question of the lie hidden behind belief.”
The film is released in theaters on November 27, 2024.
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Sound clips
- Movie trailer Drama Queens d’Alexis Langlois, 2024
- Movie trailer Heretic de Scott Beck et Bryan Woods, 2024
