“What is See it, Stream it, Skip it?”
“See it, Stream it, Skip it” is a movie review column by writer Cody Buskohl that aims to give readers spoiler-free reviews of new box office films and report back on whether they should see it now, wait until it comes to streaming services, or skip it altogether.
“Die My Love”
Rated: R
Plot Summary: A young couple, Grace (Jennifer Lawrence) and Jackson (Robert Pattison), move to rural Montana in search of a quieter life. As they settle into their new routine and become parents, Grace begins to struggle with feelings of isolation and psychological distress. The film follows Grace’s deteriorating mental state as it begins to affect and endanger her family.
***
It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly where “Die My Love” went wrong, but I think it boils down to a script that needed reworking.
For example, around twenty minutes into the film, an unimportant side character dies.
The audience only knows this, however, because of a brief scene where Grace and Jackson are dressed in all black, and Jackson is somewhat crying.
This scene doesn’t take place at a cemetery, or a church, or anywhere that a dead person may be, but instead in their kitchen.
This isn’t a gaffe from an incompetent director. If the script didn’t say to have a scene at a funeral, then the director is not going to shoot that.
It’s just not great writing. If I was writing a movie about the anxiety of starting a young family, a scene at a funeral sounds perfect.
While Jackson is consoling the loss of somebody important to him, perhaps the baby starts crying and Grace has to embarrassingly rush outside to quiet him, making her feel sheepish and furthering her stress.
“Die My Love” is full of these mishaps where it just felt like the movie was happening around me, not for me to see.
And I’m all for tasteful expression, but Hollywood’s obsession with (female) nudity makes me feel like a prude. All of the nude scenes minus one could have been cut with the story staying the same.
The one, good use of nudity was a scene of Grace checking herself out in the mirror after giving birth.
She is trying to silently reaffirm her beauty despite her changed body.
This scene did add value to the film (although, it probably still could have been done without nudity, but I digress.)
I think Lawrence (who was actually four months pregnant while filming this movie) did an incredible job with the script she had.
Many scenes genuinely made me laugh, and I was often really concerned about where the story was going and if Grace was going to full-on snap and perhaps attack someone — it was nerve-racking.
I wish I could talk about Pattison’s role more, but he’s not very present in the movie.
This certainly is responsible for Grace’s feelings of isolation, but I would have loved to see more of him and perhaps showcase how even with a loving partner, postpartum depression can affect anyone.
Overall, “Die My Love” is okay. Lawrence tries her best, but her performance is sullied by a mismanaged script and Hollywood’s wandering eyes.
The feeling of watching “Die My Love” is best compared to riding a roller coaster. It starts slow and calculated, and will quickly excite you for a ride that will only let you down.
Maybe mothers who have gone through postpartum depression will find “Die My Love” solemnly relatable, but I still think all parties would be better off not wasting two hours or $8 to see this at the local AMC like I did.
FINAL VERDICT: SKIP IT!
2.5 out of 5 stars.
