The latest movie in A24’s repertoire exceeds expectations when it comes to imitating a Douglas Sirk-esque 1950s melodrama, right down to the subverted critique of American life through entertainment.
“The Drama” delivers on its name with its over-the-top characters and intense imagery along with a heavy use of dark comedy that helps serve as a criticism of societal issues. However, it is held back with a confusing tone and one-dimensional characters.
Directed by Kristoffer Borgli as his third feature movie and produced by Ari Aster, Lars Knudsen and Tyler Campellone, the film delivers the ensemble duo of Zendaya and Robert Pattinson as a Boston couple preparing for their wedding when an uncovered secret begins to spiral their relationship out of control.
When the film begins, viewers are introduced to two characters: Charlie Thompson, played by Pattinson, and Emma Harwood, played by Zendaya. It starts as one typical romantic comedy might: the two meet in a cafe and some hilarity ensues as they establish a relationship. Two years later, they are engaged and preparing for their wedding.
However, during a dinner tasting with their maid-of-honor Rachel, played by Alana Heim, and best man Mike, played by Mamadou Athie, Charlie and Emma bring up that they saw the wedding DJ doing drugs in a public park.
This prompts the group to go around and begin admitting the worst thing they’ve ever done. When Emma reveals her worst action to the party, the film transitions from what seemed to be a run-of-the-mill romance to an intense test of morality.
“The Drama” primarily focuses on Charlie’s attempts to awkwardly move on from what is revealed at the dinner party but given the intense pressure of the wedding being days away, the psychological effects begin to take a toll on the relationship.
The cinematography, color grading and editing of the film are among its highlights, with well-done imagery helping weave the intensity of the situation alongside flashbacks and character visions.
The soundtrack, just being composed of three flutes and recorded in one day, also complements the overall tension that builds throughout the movie, as it all culminates at the wedding.
There is also criticism across a variety of issues in modern American society: gender roles, ingrained racism, American gun culture and mental health, while also arguably presenting its biggest ethical examination between one’s intent and impact, while handling the concepts well enough.
A major chunk of the film tackles the idea of if someone could really be forgiven for simply thinking yet never acting on a thought, even if said thought is so taboo in modern American culture.
Emma comes out of all of this, perhaps, as the most sympathetic character in the film. Despite her thought being so against the grain, it pales in comparison to the overreactions that her friends and even fiancé commit.
However, the characters can be so over-the-top that some of the reactions within the movie are borderline soap opera-like. While an interesting concept that very few characters within the main cast are redeemable, some of them, like Rachel, can come off as one-dimensional.
Emma almost acts more as a plot device for Charlie rather than an actual character at times. The most seen out of her character arc is through flashback when she was a kid in high school. Audiences don’t see her side of the relationship much either, as the film takes an intense focus on Charlie’s perspective.
The dark comedy in the film is a double-edged sword as well, as though the jokes were meant to be distasteful to begin with. It acts as a contrast to the soap opera-ness of the film, and while in some scenes it works like a charm to cool the tension, in other scenes it just seems out-of-place.
While “The Drama” is a beautifully crafted film, the way it handles the overall subject matter in its attempt to highlight issues creates this weird imbalance of wanting to be taken seriously versus trying to be funny. It’s a movie that can be described as tasteless and disturbing and yet beautiful and effective.
Ayden Oredson is a journalism major with a minor in media studies.
