For a film in which Jennifer Lawrence plays a soldier attacked in battle and spends a significant part of the film in a swimsuit, I cannot think of an arrangement of those items in context less appealing to f***boys. Yes, JLaw does play a soldier scarred by an IED. Will you see the war scene? No. Will there be any combat? No. Will you fetishists even get to see JLaw don a uniform and carry a gun? No.
But there’s puh-lenty of Jennifer Lawrence in a swimsuit, right? Yup. And if you can be thrilled by the experience, more power to you. Her suits are either one-piece or something resembling workout clothes and there isn’t a hint of sexy in this character. Not one. Even when she’s kissing.
But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Lynsey (JLaw) is home from Afghanistan. And by “home” I mean rehab and lots of it. She was blown up good in the Middle East and has plenty of work to do just to get back to “normal,” whatever that is. PTSD is her life now. Before long, she earns the right to return to her childhood home, which would be great if that were what she wanted. Lynsey wants redeployment. She wants to go back to the Middle East, just like Channing Tatum in that Dog movie from last year.
And just like Channing Tatum in that Dog movie from last year, ain’t no doctor gonna sign off on that without seeing significant improvement.
Getting the truck repaired is on Lynsey’s “to do” list, which brings garage owner James (Brian Tyree Henry) into the picture and the two form a sweet if unlikely friendship. James is broken, too. Oh, it’s one of these, is it? Yes, it is. Causeway is about PTSD and little more, really. Lynsey is gay, so we know there’s no chance of an eventual romantic entanglement, however, the movie continues to be about Lynsey and James no matter what we want.
So the big question is: Can the performances overcome the fact that nothing happens in the film?
I am not
cheating here; that is 100% a legitimate and fair question to ask of Causeway. If you want to see two people talk a lot and give honest, moving performances, have a seat, but if you want, nay NEED, to see literally anything happen, you need to switch channels.
Causeway is a collection of really great performances, which speaks well of director Lila Neugebauer … dialogue-wise. Causeway is also a film in which LITERALLY NOTHING HAPPENS, which speaks ill of director Lila Neugebauer, action-wise. I see that Lila is a theater director; that surprises me very little. Clearly, the director understands dialogue and emotion, but movies are a bigger media. If you don’t have anything happen, you better be directing The Whale, or audiences will be turned off. And, let’s face it, some audiences even turned on The Whale.
There once was a woman named Lyn
Who got blown up, to her chagrin
Her overall life plan:
Return to Afghanistan
But PTSD is now country of origin
Rated R, 94 Minutes
Director: Lila Neugebauer
Writer: Ottessa Moshfegh, Luke Goebel, Elizabeth Sanders
Genre: Oh crap, human touchy feeling emotion cry film
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: Theater critics
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: Action junkies
