When it comes to love or relationships, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey may make you ponder, “How honest are we with ourselves, or with others?” At one point, near the beginning of the film, a character literally states, “I think we perform more than we think we do.” And what follows is a whimsical journey, guided by a magical GPS, between David (Colin Farrell) and Sarah (Margot Robbie).
Both David and Sarah are apparently desirable individuals who each struggle with commitment in their own ways. When the two have a flirtatious interaction at a wedding that seemingly goes nowhere, a magical GPS has them cross paths on their way home and sets them on a journey through various magical doors to relive impactful moments of their past that shaped how they approach relationships and who they became in their lives.
Only these past moments of David and Sarah are not just for solo reflection, but are instead shared with the other person, who, through their own experience observing the intimacy of those moments, can provide context, support, and a true understanding of the other. Through each fantastical doorway, both David and Sarah find themselves confronting their past with honesty and vulnerability for themselves and each other. It is through this shared honesty and understanding of each other’s past traumas that they may actually have a chance at finding an earnest love and companionship.
From a technical standpoint, the film moves deliberately slow and quietly, from scene to scene. While this tactic undoubtedly will cause many to think the film is boring or going nowhere, I found the pace and quiet acting fit the idea of self-reflection that is paramount to our protagonist’s journey. Self-reflection, by nature, is quiet, slow, and thoughtful. Both Farrell and Robbie do a great job acting in those quiet moments when a few words or a simple gesture will often say so much more than any action on film. Additionally, in a less subtle way, the color palette over the course of the film becomes not only a signature for our characters but also an identifier for the character’s personalities. This adds a nice touch to the overall whimsical nature of the film.
While completely different, this film in many ways reminded me of Eternal Sunshine and the Spotless Mind and The Adjustment Bureau. Both of which I enjoyed upon my original watch, only to truly fall in love with each of those films upon subsequent viewings. I look forward to watching A Big Bold Beautiful Journey again to see if it falls into that same category for me.
4 out of 5 stars
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