A free-spirited divorcee spends her nights on the dance floor, joyfully letting loose at clubs around Los Angeles. She soon finds herself thrust into an unexpected new romance, filled with the joys of budding love and the complications of dating.
I have long been a lover of big action films, so it's interesting to find since I have been reviewing a film every day, I have been "forced" to widen my horizons and watch more films from other genres. What surprised me the most is that some of my favourite films so far this year have been dramas (Never Look Away, Colette, Green Book). Gloria Bell is another film that I can add to that list of highly engaging films.
Interestingly, this isn't exactly an original film. This is an English remake of the 2013 Chilean film, Gloria, and much like Cold Pursuit/In Order of Disappearance had the same director, both Gloria and Gloria Bell have Sebastián Lelio at the helm. Unlike the Cold Pursuit remake, however, Gloria Bell is absolutely captivating.
What works so well with this film is that it is grounded and relatable. It isn't a story about trying to save the world or travelling into space, this is a simple story that follows a middle-aged divorced woman as she tries to find companionship at this "late" point in her life. As a single person myself, I can fully empathise with her life, balancing a monotonous job, to pay for a less than perfect single residence, and having to go out and try to find other single people in a world full of couples.
The film is so subtle in its story, that you can easily put yourselves in her shoes. Or if you find Julianne Moore's confidence a little hard to believe, then John Turturro's role as the love interest will certainly hit close to home. The film follows through all of the unnecessary and unexciting portions of one's life and includes all of the bore, the awkward, the cringe, anger, and melancholy; a well-rounded view.
If you know Julianne Moore's previous works (such as Boogie Nights), you will know that the woman is incredibly confident as has no qualms about fulfilling the needs of emotional or physical performances. Gloria Bell does have its fair share of nudity in it, but it is used as a method of driving the story forward, a visual aid to display comfort levels and closeness between characters. Moore is fully at home in the role, and her performance draws you in, all the way.
The score and soundtrack work great in tandem. You can't really have a story about a middle-aged woman named Gloria without finding a way to include Laura Branigan's 1982 hit Gloria, and it really sets the tone of the film, as you watch this independent woman trying to live life her way. Otherwise, the score is quite well-tempered, largely withdrawn and subtle, adding a flourish to each scene rather than taking your focus away from the central subject. In terms of cinematography, you can expect some gorgeous shots. From the opening scenes where the camera pans down in the night club, the symmetrical nature of the room and the vivid and vibrant colours creates a dark, yet youthful atmosphere.
The storyline really resonates in this day and age, where people are finding themselves outside of the usual societal norms, and combatting the melancholy through a variety of outlets, some more self-destructive than others.
Gloria Bell is not perfect. There are some pacing issues that can cause a bit of a lull in the second act, and there are some characters and the odd scene that don't feel necessary or don't really lead to anything, but overall the subtle nature of the film is endearing. Julianne Moore is incredibly charismatic and takes you along on her personal journey of self-affirmation.