Review: Blue Jay
Grade: B
How often are we reminded of “the one that got away”? It’s essential within pop culture, be it in sitcoms or every other Dinosaur Jr. song. The long lost love is a trope that exists because we’re a nostalgic bunch, and the “what if?” of past relationships toys in all of our minds. The latest film from the Duplass brothers, in assistance with director Alex Lehmann, answer the “what if” with Blue Jay.
The brilliant Sarah Paulson and Mark Duplass play Amanda and Jim, ex-lovers who, years after separating, run into each other in their hometown supermarket. After politely catching up over coffee, they break their previous engagements to spend an evening together, recalling their high school affair and why it went south.
Those familiar with Duplass films expect a degree of emotional vulnerability that runs rampant throughout their movies. Their documentary-inspired style often focuses on the nuances of relationships, in addition to mostly improvised dialogue that produces a raw and very human atmosphere. Although this rings true with Blue Jay, the docu-style handheld camera is replaced with Lehmann’s choice of primarily static, black and white photography. The rich pools of grey beautifully highlight the veiled interactions of Amanda and Jim, in which their conversations hide harsh truths in the shadows while they reimagine their young romance with nostalgia blinders.
Both Paulson and Duplass share an intoxicating chemistry that is viciously natural. Although a mostly quiet film, Blue Jay provides more than enough to remind us why Sarah Paulson is one of the most important actresses working today. The performances are somehow unsentimental yet earnest and continues the tradition of the Duplass’ being involved in work that puts a spotlight on some of their players’ most memorable moments.
Although there is a point where the film drags a bit, a dramatic turn builds for a third act of unforgettable emotional release. It tiptoes the line of melodrama, but the performances are so honest that it’s easy to look past. Lehmann and company successfully critique how nostalgia can blind us, move us, and in some cases, make us forget hard truths. In an age of nostalgia over-saturation, it’s refreshing to see its dark side fleshed out in such a human drama.
Blue Jay is currently playing at Cinema 21 until October 28.
