Celine Song’s “Past Lives” was not only a Sundance sensation, but also went on to get Best Picture nominated at the Oscars. Whatever film Song did next was going to be met with a lot of anticipation, especially by critics, who wildly praised “Past Lives.”
Last fall, A24 hopped onboard Song’s next project. I had originally reported that her sophomore effort would be the romcom “Materialists.” The film wrapped its NYC production in June and had screened for a select few last night.
Briefly, based on multiple people I’ve spoken to, “Materialists” is “just is not as good as “Past Lives.” The cut shown was rough, and they definitely have room to tighten it up and make it better.
The film is being described as “Hitch if it was written by James L. Brooks,” in both complimentary and derogatory ways. Dakota Johnson is said to be a standout as the workaholic matchmaker who has to confront what she wants out of love. She is said to have really good chemistry with Pedro Pascal (also very good) and Chris Evans.
What “Materialists” seems to amount to is “commercial appeal” and the kind of romcom that doesn’t really get made these days, unless you count those terrible ones that Netflix seems to be releasing every month.
It’s not clear if A24 will opt to debut this one at Sundance next January, or if they’d rather wait for the 2025 fall festivals. In a recent interview with GQ, Song and producer Christine Vachon were very hush-hush about what “Materialists” was about, stingy with details, but Vachon did point out that it would be a “very different movie” to “Past Lives.”
“It feels like she makes a very different movie every time, that she’s going to be the kind of a filmmaker who doesn’t make the same movie twice.”
There’s no need to leave this a mystery. If you regularly read this site then you already know what “Materialists” is about, and it couldn’t be further connected to “Past Lives.” Vachon is right, Song is making a totally different film.
“Materialists” is a romcom inspired by James L. Brooks’s whip-smart films from the ‘80s (“Broadcast News,” “Terms of Endearment”). Here’s the synopsis:
Set against the vibrant backdrop of New York City, a city that never sleeps and is known for its diverse and dynamic relationships, “Materialists” provides a unique glimpse into the lives of the city’s elite. Lucy’s expertise in matchmaking is highly sought after by those willing to pay a premium for her services. However, the film hints at complications that arise, leading to a toxic love triangle that threatens to unravel the lives of all involved.
This is a fairly risky move on the part of Song, going from “Past Lives” to what sounds like pure romcom territory. It doesn’t sound like “Materialists” will get the same acclaim as “Past Lives” and maybe that’s what Song intended by having her sophomore effort be a lighter affair.