There's quite an amazing singular force that propels the film forward, but in my view there are just too many bells and whistles to distract us from going deeper into the psyches of the characters and the heart of the subject matter. These distractions - stylized images and accompanying melodies - make the film feel more like a music video. The borrowed songs/pieces already have a life on its own, so sometimes they feel like an easy way out to build up emotions/expectations. I know overstimulation is sometimes part of the "style", but perhaps Dolan should sometimes trust that the acting, pacing, environment and diegetic sounds alone can carry a scene, pom-poms are not always necessary.
Dolan was very young when he directed this, and the overambition shows.
Dolan was very young when he directed this, and the overambition shows.