Movie Review: 'Mother Mary' Blends Pop Stardom with Gothic Drama
David Lowery’s latest film, 'Mother Mary,' is a fitfully spellbinding chamber drama that transforms a pop star’s wardrobe malfunction into an existential crisis. The narrative centers on Mother Mary, an arena-filling pop icon played by Anne Hathaway, who arrives wet and forlorn at the studio of her former fashion designer, Sam Anselm, portrayed by Michaela Coel. Their reunion, occurring after more than a decade of estrangement, reopens old wounds and sparks a journey of reinvention intertwined with ghostly elements. While the film is most effective in its intimate scenes within a shadowy workroom, it loses momentum as it becomes increasingly abstract. Inspired by the spiritual fervor of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and the structure of 'A Christmas Carol,' the movie explores the transformative power of pop music through a gothic lens. Featuring songs written for the film, this earnest melodrama combines high-fashion aesthetics with supernatural themes. Although it occasionally struggles with pacing, the strong performances by Hathaway and Coel anchor the story, creating a unique cinematic experience that examines fame, faith, and forgiveness through the metaphor of clothing and performance.
Wire timeline
Movie Review: 'Mother Mary' Blends Pop Stardom with Gothic Drama
David Lowery’s latest film, 'Mother Mary,' is a fitfully spellbinding chamber drama that transforms a pop star’s wardrobe malfunction into an existential crisis. The narrative centers on Mother Mary, an arena-filling pop icon played by Anne Hathaway, who arrives wet and forlorn at the studio of her former fashion designer, Sam Anselm, portrayed by Michaela Coel. Their reunion, occurring after more than a decade of estrangement, reopens old wounds and sparks a journey of reinvention intertwined with ghostly elements. While the film is most effective in its intimate scenes within a shadowy workroom, it loses momentum as it becomes increasingly abstract. Inspired by the spiritual fervor of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and the structure of 'A Christmas Carol,' the movie explores the transformative power of pop music through a gothic lens. Featuring songs written for the film, this earnest melodrama combines high-fashion aesthetics with supernatural themes. Although it occasionally struggles with pacing, the strong performances by Hathaway and Coel anchor the story, creating a unique cinematic experience that examines fame, faith, and forgiveness through the metaphor of clothing and performance.
AP News