136. Wander Darkly; movie review

 

 

WANDER DARKLY

Cert 15

97 mins

BBFC advice: Contains strong language, suicide references, sex

Just what I didn't need as we emerge from Covid lockdown and having just seen my relegation-threatened football team trashed, was a 90-minute contemplation of death.

I simply don't want to envisage a world without either Mrs W or my children and yet such morose thoughts are prompted by Wander Darkly.

It stars Sienna Miller as a new mum whose relationship with her partner (Diego Luna) is on the rocks when they are involved in a car crash.

In true Ghost-style, she looks down on her own body in hospital and then sees her nearest and dearest grieve over her death.

However, her mindset is shaken further when her partner can see her and tries to convince her that she is alive after all.

And he takes her back to all of the crucial moments in their romance to prove why they should not have been on the verge of splitting up.

This is when we enter the land of slush and a sequence of lovey-doveyness which made me squirm.

To be fair, Miller is impressive as Adrienne, a woman who is facing turmoil at almost every turn.

The character demands her full repertoire and she does emotional breakdown, gooey and intense lover with equal aplomb.

Sadly, she cannot lift Tara Miele's film enough for it to last very long in the memory.

I am afraid it is submerged in sentimentality and, as said, we probably watched it at the wrong time - we have all had enough of bathing in misery.

Reasons to watch: Intense performance by Sienna Miller

Reasons to avoid: Such a slow romance

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: Yes

Overall rating: 5.5/10

Did you know? Sienna Miller is the daughter of an American banker Ed Miller and  Jo Miller, who was a South African model. She was born on December 28, 1981, in New York City, United States and moved to England when she was one year old.

The final word. Sienna Miller: “Independent cinema is always a gamble. You never really know how the films are going to turn out. It’s a leap of faith. But I read this script, and I was just in love with the concept. I’m glad that it got into Sundance, and I’m glad that it’s getting released. Those are the cherries on top.” Forbes

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