Ma
3/4
Starring: Octavia Spencer, Diana Silvers, McKaley Miller, Corey Fogelmanis, Gianni Paolo, Dante Brown, Tanyell Waivers, Juliette Lewis
Rated R for Violent/Disturbing Material, Language Throughout, Sexual Content, and for Teen Drug and Alcohol Use
Octavia Spencer might as well write "scene stealer" as her career label. Spencer is a gifted actress, but even before she became a hot commodity after winning an Oscar for "The Help," she managed to stick out in every role she played. She was impossible to forget as the skeptical sign-in lady in "Spider-Man," for example. But her roles have always been the sassy yet warm supporting character in movies like "Black or White" and "Gifted." Spencer has always shown hints at greater depths in her performances, but she's at risk of being typecast (to be fair, it's something that she does so well). With "Ma," she's trying to branch out and show what she is really capable of.
Maggie (Silvers) is in the unenviable position of moving to a new high school in the middle of the year. Through a stroke of luck she meets Queen Bee Hayley (Miller) and her friends. Soon they're always hanging out, which consists of riding around in a work van getting drunk. One day while attempting to procure booze, they run into a woman walking a three-legged dog named Sue Ann (Spencer), who agrees. Soon Sue Ann is their booze dealer, and since she wants them to stay safe, she offers them a deal they can't refuse: they can party all they want in her basement as long as they don't use the Lord's name in vain or go upstairs. It's a great arrangement, but soon Maggie begins to wonder what the catch is. It turns out that Sue Ann's actions are generated by more than generosity.
This is a daring role for Spencer, and she takes the part and runs with it. Sue Ann is a truly twisted woman who is simultaneously insane and sad. We are both empathetic to her situation and scared of what she is capable of. It's a tricky tightrope to navigate, but Spencer does it effortlessly. Diana Silvers can't match Spencer's talent or presence, but she doesn't have to. She's our window into the story, and that's all that's required. Sue Ann may be the most interesting character, but it's Maggie we get behind. The rest of the cast does solid jobs as well, including Luke Evans (never an actor of real range).
One thing I can say for this movie is that it takes chances. It's ambitious and merges numerous genres and storylines. In all honesty the screenplay needed another run through the computer to camouflage the seams and give it more focus and drive. This would have been a great vehicle for the late Wes Craven.
"Ma" is better described as a mystery rather than a horror movie. Although it does feature some gruesome violence and more than a few people end up six feet under in rather grisly ways, the style and energy give it a different feel than some sort of slasher movie. It's not great art, but for what it is, I enjoyed myself.
Starring: Octavia Spencer, Diana Silvers, McKaley Miller, Corey Fogelmanis, Gianni Paolo, Dante Brown, Tanyell Waivers, Juliette Lewis
Rated R for Violent/Disturbing Material, Language Throughout, Sexual Content, and for Teen Drug and Alcohol Use
Octavia Spencer might as well write "scene stealer" as her career label. Spencer is a gifted actress, but even before she became a hot commodity after winning an Oscar for "The Help," she managed to stick out in every role she played. She was impossible to forget as the skeptical sign-in lady in "Spider-Man," for example. But her roles have always been the sassy yet warm supporting character in movies like "Black or White" and "Gifted." Spencer has always shown hints at greater depths in her performances, but she's at risk of being typecast (to be fair, it's something that she does so well). With "Ma," she's trying to branch out and show what she is really capable of.
Maggie (Silvers) is in the unenviable position of moving to a new high school in the middle of the year. Through a stroke of luck she meets Queen Bee Hayley (Miller) and her friends. Soon they're always hanging out, which consists of riding around in a work van getting drunk. One day while attempting to procure booze, they run into a woman walking a three-legged dog named Sue Ann (Spencer), who agrees. Soon Sue Ann is their booze dealer, and since she wants them to stay safe, she offers them a deal they can't refuse: they can party all they want in her basement as long as they don't use the Lord's name in vain or go upstairs. It's a great arrangement, but soon Maggie begins to wonder what the catch is. It turns out that Sue Ann's actions are generated by more than generosity.
This is a daring role for Spencer, and she takes the part and runs with it. Sue Ann is a truly twisted woman who is simultaneously insane and sad. We are both empathetic to her situation and scared of what she is capable of. It's a tricky tightrope to navigate, but Spencer does it effortlessly. Diana Silvers can't match Spencer's talent or presence, but she doesn't have to. She's our window into the story, and that's all that's required. Sue Ann may be the most interesting character, but it's Maggie we get behind. The rest of the cast does solid jobs as well, including Luke Evans (never an actor of real range).
One thing I can say for this movie is that it takes chances. It's ambitious and merges numerous genres and storylines. In all honesty the screenplay needed another run through the computer to camouflage the seams and give it more focus and drive. This would have been a great vehicle for the late Wes Craven.
"Ma" is better described as a mystery rather than a horror movie. Although it does feature some gruesome violence and more than a few people end up six feet under in rather grisly ways, the style and energy give it a different feel than some sort of slasher movie. It's not great art, but for what it is, I enjoyed myself.
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