StarsAtNoon Review: A Languid Romantic Thriller Saved By Strong Performances
Adapted from Denis Johnson's novel, Claire Denis' Stars at Noon is an exercise in patience. The film, which premiered earlier this year at Cannes and shared the Grand Prix with Close, has gone through many iterations in its development. Robert Pattinson was originally cast as Daniel opposite star Margaret Qualley before Taron Egerton joined and then dropped out of the picture.
SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY Trish is stuck in a Nicaraguan city in the middle of the pandemic when she meets Daniel . Desperate to get to Costa Rica, Trish is working the problem from all angles - a sketchy government official and now the mysterious British man named Daniel she meets in a hotel bar one night. But what begins as a one-night tryst turns into a full-blown affair.
Qualley earned acclaim for her role in Netflix's limited series The Maid, but she rose to prominence on HBO's The Leftovers in which she played the embattled daughter to Justin Theroux's existential crisis-having father. In Stars at Noon, Qualley seems to take everything she has displayed in past efforts and amplifies it here into a sort of nihilistic malaise that has her wandering from air-conditioned hotel lobbies to sweaty, neon-lit bars.
Daniel finds himself wrapped up in her orbit, but it's never clear whether Trish's sheer force of will or Daniel's own apathy has led him away from the Nicaraguan city where the film begins and closer to escape at the Costa Rican border. Alwyn isn't very expressive and while it works for the character, it's this distance that perhaps undermines the chemistry that Trish and Daniel so desperately need.
Hiding within Stars at Noon is a lean erotic thriller, one where the lack of chemistry between Alwyn and Qualley can be overlooked both because of Denis' directing and the standalone performances of its cast. Unfortunately, the film gets bogged down by pacing issues, hoping to coast on the chemistry of Qualley and Alwyn, but runs out of gas long before danger starts to creep in just past the hour mark.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
The Iconic Revlon Blow Dryer Brushes Are On Sale for Amazon Prime DaySome of our all-time favorite blow dryers—from Conair to Drybar to Revlon's viral blow dryer brushes—are on major sale today.
Read more »
Padres rally, draw even with Dodgers in NL Division SeriesPadres head back to San Diego tied 1-1 after bullpen closes out thriller in Game 2; Josh Hader records four-out save; Manny Machado and Jake Cronenworth homer
Read more »
The Mosquito Coast Season 2 Trailer: Danger Still Lurks for the Fox FamilyApple TV+ has finally released The Mosquito Coast Season 2 trailer for the upcoming return of the thriller drama starring Justin Theroux and Melissa George.
Read more »
Navy SEAL trainee died of acute pneumonia, cardiac arrest, report saysA Navy SEAL candidate who died hours after he completed the grueling stretch of training known as Hell Week succumbed to acute pneumonia and cardiac arrest, according to a military investigation obtained by NBCNews
Read more »
Republicans to curb Government Accountability Office probes of private sector if they win HouseRep. James Comer, R-Ky., wants to make sure the GAO stays focused on ways to improve government performance and saving taxpayer funds, which is GAO's stated mission.
Read more »