Her Smell (2018)

Her Smell (2018)

6/10

Starring

Elizabeth Moss

Cara Delevingne

Dan Stevens

Directed by Alex Ross Perry

Her Smell offers a dramatic look at the life of a rock star, chronicling the rise to fame and the inevitable crash when everything turns against you. Unfortunately, the movie suffers from poor pacing, which becomes glaringly obvious in the first hour. On top of that, the cinematography feels odd, and the screenplay confines most of the story to backstage concert settings. The limited number of scenes—many of which are drawn-out—makes the movie feel sluggish. You can almost count the scenes on one hand. The movie fails in how long it takes to get you fully involved.

The filmmakers try to provide character insights through home video footage, but this approach feels shallow, even for Becky, the lead character. At times, you wish for more variety or action, as the long conversations often meander without leading anywhere meaningful. The movie's turning point—Becky’s breakdown—could have been far more impactful with better cinematography and a more convincing portrayal of the conflicts.

That said, Elizabeth Moss delivers a phenomenal performance as Becky. Her portrayal is compelling enough to merit high praise, and she truly deserves recognition and awards for her work.

As mentioned, the movie centers on Becky, a rock star who rises to fame only to become her own worst enemy. She alienates everyone around her, filling her circle with enablers and hangers-on who exploit her. When she hits rock bottom, she clings to her self-belief even as drugs and alcohol drive her further down. Eventually, she loses even her closest friends—her bandmates—who grow tired of her chaos.

When Becky loses everything, the one thing she once resented—her daughter—becomes the only thing that matters.

I’m not sure how well this movie performed at the box office, but based on its structure and the lack of buzz in my circle, I doubt it made a significant profit.

Directed and written by Alex Ross Perry, who also served as a producer alongside Moss, Her Smell reunites the two after their previous collaboration on Queen of Earth. Perry is also known for directing the live-action Winnie the Pooh movie, Christopher Robin (2018).

The movie also features Cara Delevingne, who doesn’t contribute much to the story, and Dan Stevens, who plays the father of Becky’s daughter.

The only reason I’d recommend this movie is to witness Moss’s outstanding performance. You might end up loving the film, but be warned—it’s not for everyone.