I had a discussion with Hollywood-Elsewhere’s "Jeffrey Wells about Emerald Fennell‘s Sundance shocker “Promising Young Woman,” how Bong Joon-ho might take the Best Director Oscar away from 1917‘s Sam Mendes and the Iowa caucus rivalry between Bernie Sanders-vs.-Pete Buttigieg.
I wrote on 1.31.20 about “Promising Young Woman”:
“Emerald Fennell’s debut feature, “Promising Young Woman” plays like a feminist “Death Wish.” This thought-provoking movie has been the talk of the town ever since its premiere last weekend. Carey Mulligan stars as Cassie a barista and med-school dropout, haunted by her best friend’s dorm-room rape and ensuing suicide. Cassie spends her evenings, however, in clubs and bars, exacting revenge on any man who dares go over the line with her. However, as she hops from one brutal encounter tee to the next, details emerge about her best friend’s death, inspiring Cassie to exact revenge on every single person that took part in the rape. Fennell, who directed the second season of “Killing Eve,” shows some real skill in her stylish, neon-infused direction. Although none-too-subtle in execution, “Young Promising Woman” is perversely heroic, a scathing indictment of male cruelty that doesn’t mind being over-the-top. Mulligan delivers another great performance as a woman unafraid to cross the line, even when it means compromising her own moral compass. The biblical saying an eye for eye is used here to the nth degree.”