I don’t know if Aronofsky movies are supposed to be fun, but that was the most fun I’ve had in a theater all year. From the opening sequence, I knew I was in for a treat. Now I don’t read, so I’ll never be able to compare movies to the books they’re adapted from but, what I can say is that the writing in this had me hooked from beginning to end. 

Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan, The Wrestler) lays out this world perfectly, it’s NYC used in a way that is resourceful and punk rock. Aronofsky still uses addiction and broken protagonists at the forefront of his story, but plants them in a much larger world. Elements of his direction are some of the most precise I’ve seen so far from him. There’s emotion behind the way the camera shows the characters that felt like a character in its own right. I wish I could describe in detail one scene involving Butler and Kravitz, but you’ll just have to see it for yourself and experience the impact the direction had on me. 

Austin Butler is the star of this show. His emotional acting shines and shows off his range with the best performance of his career. Playing an innocent (or not so) character thrown into the mix up of a crime world, was the perfect role for him. He got to be a wild card, for the audience and the other characters within the story. Butler shines on screen in almost every scene and every key aspect of the film. 

It would be a mistake not to mention the rest of this stacked cast, because the lineup is a home run. Zoe Kravitz is a smooth talking and intellectual paramedic that also happens to be the love interest. Bad Bunny is a menace that absolutely has a place as a legitimate player in this realm. Matt Smith and his ridiculously spot on accent just adds to the punk rockiness at the core. Everyone else has their spot in this game as well. The cat who gives the best cat performance since Inside Llewyn Davis, Regina King playing right into the foil, and Liev Schreiber and Vincent D’Onofrio as the big bad. Ensemble of the year right here. 

I was so addicted to this film, whether it was the costume design, the murder, movie stars, and the laughs that will make you cry. It’s a chaotic mix that is a thrill throughout. There’s WTF moments that will have you thinking about jumping out of your seat and some of the most quotable moments from a movie this decade. It’s a crime drama that is one of my favorite movies of the year. Even if it isn’t iconic or super straight forward, it’s still a hit. 

How can you not be romantic about Aronofsky?

8.9/10