Damsels in Distress (2012)

Fantastic little gem, and come back film from writer/director Whit Stillman. It's not as ambitious in scope as his previous films, but the writing is as sharp as ever, and all the actresses are phenomenal. For the uninitiated, this a dialogue driven film. The humor is all deadpan and dry, not to mention quirky as hell. As always Stillman tackles very human issues within the confines of a very specific environment, with very specific characters, most people will never encounter. That's part of what makes his movies so special, that they can be so offbeat yet be anyone can relate to them, if they are open to it.This is the kind of film that many people will either dismiss as boring, those in this camp I have no use for, or pretentious, those in this camp, I understand, but that's the appeal. Give it a shot and let the dialogue wash over your, just don't expect a typical plot.

Damsels in Distress is awful for so many reasons but principally for a comedy script that isn't funny and multiple lousy performances.Greta Gerwig of course attracts something of a loyal following but she again turns in her usual irritating performance. While it could be pleaded the character of Violet is intended to be infuriating, and so the performance is intentionally irritating, as Gerwig gives exactly the same performance in every film she makes, we can only conclude the performer is to blame. Others around her (e.g. Analeigh Tipton as Lily, or Ryan Metcalf as Frank) do a reasonable job with the poor material, although Megalyn Echikunwoke as Rose cannot be forgiven for giving one of the worst performances ever on film. And just when you thought things could not get any worse, the film closes with two really bad dance sequences that kill stone dead any message about the wonders of dance which the film has tried to spin.Awful, simply awful.

Violet (Greta Gerwig) and her two followers Heather (Carrie MacLemore) and Rose (Megalyn Echikunwoke) intends to help Lily (Analeigh Tipton) who recently transfered. They run the Suicide Prevention Center at the Seven Oaks College to questionable effectiveness. They have an obsession with odor and fighting for proper etiquette. Priss (Caitlin FitzGerald) joins the group insisting that she's not suicidal.I just think that the characters are so unreal. Everything is so weirdly pretentious and mannered. They are annoying people who all talk in that annoying manner. It may work if only a few talk that way. This feels like writer/director Whit Stillman is trying too hard. The Frat guys are too stupid. Are they color blind? At least, that would explain that insane conversation. The problem is that they don't look high. It sounds more like high talk. The girls are too high-minded (not the drug kind). The conversation is too annoying to be funny. It almost pains me to hear some of the dialog. I love Greta Gerwig as an actress. Analeigh Tipton is OK but she lacks the power. There are some good actresses but I don't like this movie.

Of course in Germany they changed the title into "Algebra in Love". Which kind of is something that is in the movie too, but of course the original title is way better. Although I guess it might be confusing for some who don't have a clue what they are watching too. It just states what situation the women in the movie are. But in a different way than some would imagine.Gerwig is great in her offbeat role, but the support cast is helping too. It's a tough theme and script to pull off (as can be seen in some commentaries here on IMDb too), but while it won't reach everyone, I think it will reach enough people who will like/love it.