Movie Review Madness: Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)

I don't know about you guys, but I've been tired of the slew of crappy movies that have seemed to inundate cinema for the past few years. Hence, I have been on a constant hunt for good new movies, and unsurprisingly, most of those have come from independent or foreign filmmakers. Don't get me wrong, I love blockbusters. The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, The Avengers, etc. I love action/adventure and fluffy fun too. But it's been rare these past few years to find as many great, original blockbusters and studio films as there used to be (it seems all the original work is going to television). So, to independent films I turn. And in the case of this film by relative newcomer Sean Durkin, I was right.

Martha Marcy May Marlene is an intelligent, emotional, and carefully crafted drama about a young woman who leaves her "home" and reunites with her older sister with whom she has not spoken in two years. Lucy (Sarah Paulson) is confused when her sister, Martha (Elizabeth Olsen), immediately begins acting strange: sleeping all the time, having fits, spouting weird philosophy and walking into her sister's bedroom when she and her husband are having sex. Overwhelmed with Martha's paranoid and evasive behavior, Lucy is at a loss as to what has caused this change in her sister. Fortunately for the audience, through flashbacks, we see that Martha had become involved in a cult in the Catskill Mountains.



Run by the enigmatic Patrick (John Hawkes), this commune-like cult draws Martha in until she begins to experience and witness terrible betrayal and violence. These experiences haunt her constantly as she struggles to acclimate to normal life with her sister again but the task is daunting when one considers the kind of life Martha was leading.

Sean Durkin does an incredible job creating an atmosphere of fear and mistrust, directing his actors to near perfection in locations of simultaneous isolation and intimacy. Slow-burning but effective, Durkin focuses on the emotional journey of Martha herself as we go through her painful memories with her. And unlike lesser filmmakers, Durkin does not fall prey to a one-dimensional portrait of Martha or the cult. There is a sense of realism that pervades throughout the film, helping the audience see how this could happen, how a person would react to normal society after such an experience, and why Martha struggles with mixed feelings over her relationships. Durkin is not interested in portraying a glossy, political drama about a sexy cult a la Jonestown or David Koresh. Instead he gives us a wonderfully human moment, a glimpse into what a single individual can experience in a cult.



The real revelation is this film, however, is Elizabeth Olsen. Light-years beyond her famous older twin sisters, Olsen gives an amazing performance as Martha. Masterfully capturing the various emotions that Martha experiences throughout her journey, Olsen encapsulates the role completely and lets us see - often without words - what Martha is feeling. She's a deft actress and while the whole cast is great, she gives the film its emotional punch. I enjoyed watching her every second and was amazed by her nuanced and mature performance.

Overall, it's a great film: well-written, creatively directed, and filled with wonderful performances. It's a tough subject and not everyone will enjoy watching such a psychological drama, but it's a great example of some of the original and honest film-making that Hollywood can provide. I would definitely recommend this movie and I would say that if you enjoy cerebral, nuanced, but powerful dramas, you'll enjoy this gem.

Grade: A-