by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
While the Coen brothers are on a hiatus from directing movies collaboratively, it’s been interesting to see what they do individually. Are they different from each other creatively? Was the magic the mixture of their sensibilities? After The Tragedy of Macbeth, we know that Joel Coen can create something special on his own. Dark and brooding with the technical prowess we expect from the Coens. But what does Ethan have up his sleeve for Drive-Away Dolls? Well… it is special in a COMPLETELY different type of way.
Drive-Away Dolls is silly and campy with a great mixture of the shocking, awkward violence we expect from the Coens. Then condense that into an 83-minute lesbian road trip crime comedy. Yeah… there was some serious Coen alchemy going on. The filter is gone, and this crazy romp is a firehose of style and passion. Its humor is dry and hilarious, and it features a complete lack of shame and hesitance. There are some elements that are overwhelming (a recurring psychedelic motif can take you out of the film), and the transitions would even put George Lucas and his Powerpoint transitions to shame, but if you can handle just how idiosyncratic this film is, you will have an absolute blast.
Can this story live up to the crazed energy and style of filmmaking? There are certainly some elements that feel a bit random, but the core of the story is empathetic and authentic. Its anchoring element is a road trip for two lesbian friends that might challenge the extent of their relationship. Jamie (Margaret Qualley) is a spirited Texan lesbian who loves to spread love and feel the zest of living through sexual expression. Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan) is a repressed and uptight young woman who overthinks every step in life and shuts herself off from real connections. The tension between the two is fiery, and you quickly connect with their personal journey. Coen and his wife and cowriter Tricia Cooke dive headlong into lesbian culture (with all the steamy sex to go around), making Drive-Away Dolls a unique experience compared to many crime stories. They pick up a “drive-away” car that needs to get to Florida in one day. There are plenty of Coen rhymes (including the Fargo-inspired pair of goons chasing after them), drug trips, dreams, and asides in the script that help flesh out the characters and themes. It even features some unexpected cultural commentary that just feels right in this crazy over-the-top ride.
Do the performers rise to the creative levels of Coen and Cooke? Qualley has the most extreme Texan accent, but it oddly fits her big, bold turn as a passionate and confident lesbian. Her body language choices are top notch. So are Viswanathan’s. The way she holds herself tells the audience everything they need to know about her. But it is her restrained turn that works so well in this wild world, and seeing her slowly pull back the layers sells the film. There are small but committed performances from big names like Pedro Pascal, Matt Damon, and Colman Domingo. Bill Camp steals every moment he is on screen as a dry and blunt mechanic. Our odd couple goons are a blast as well, with the explosive physicality of C.J. Wilson and the charismatic yapping Joey Slotnick. Beanie Feldstein is bombastic and honestly scary as a physical lesbian cop who just so happens to be Qualley’s ex. So in great Coen fashion, there are awesome minor characters throughout the film that make fun impacts. The little things are great.
Does Ethan Coen leave his own stamp on the film world with Drive-Away Dolls? That is a big YES. He feels unleashed in terms of creativity and boldness. This film is a mix of Burn After Reading and Intolerable Cruelty… except on steroids. Shocking. Campy. Bold. Sexy. Steamy. I could keep going. There are some flaws or overreaches stylistically, but this might be some of the best 83 minutes you spend in a theater all year long.
Rating: Liked It
Drive-Away Dolls is currently playing in theaters
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