The Drama (English) Review {2.5/5} & Review Rating
Star Cast: Zendaya, Robert Pattinson
Director: Kristoffer Borgli
The Drama Movie Review Synopsis:
THE DRAMA is the story of a couple in crisis. Charlie Thompson (Robert Pattinson) is the head curator at the Cambridge Art Museum. One day, he bumps into Emma Harwood (Zendaya) at a café and falls for her. She develops feelings for him, too, and soon they begin living together. Their wedding is just a few days away when, while preparing for the big day, they meet Charlie’s friend Mike (Mamoudou Athie) and his wife Rachel (Alana Haim). Emma is drunk and ends up revealing a shocking secret about her past. Rachel is mortified and makes her displeasure clear. Charlie initially tries to stay cool about it, but he, too, is soon left stunned by Emma’s revelation. What happens next forms the rest of the film.
The Drama Movie Story Review:
Kristoffer Borgli's story is amusing and eccentric. Kristoffer Borgli's screenplay does justice to the plot and a few scenes are quite novel and unexpected. However, the writing also falters in some places. The dialogues are conversational. As it happens with most films released by PVR Inox Pictures, there are no subtitles and hence, some dialogues might not be easy to comprehend.
Kristoffer Borgli’s direction is in tune with his previous absurdist film, DREAM SCENARIO [2023], though the genres of the two films are different. The execution is far from straightforward. The intercuts might seem random and abrupt at first, but in many scenes, they enhance the impact. Borgli also surprises viewers by making them believe that a particular sequence is over, only to revisit it later as a flashback and reveal more about it. Hence, these intercuts and the back-and-forth narrative style are what make the execution stand out. The humour is the film’s strongest point, and viewers are likely to laugh out loud at its outrageous scenes.
On the flipside, the aforementioned style of direction also makes the film niche. A section of the audience might neither be amused by nor comfortable with the core issue that the film tackles. The makers have infused the narrative with humour, but given the sensitive nature of the subject, some viewers might be taken aback. The final scene is sweet, but it also feels rushed, as if the makers wanted to wrap up the film quickly after so much ‘drama’ in the narrative. Lastly, competition from holdover releases remains strong.
The Drama Movie Review Performances:
Zendaya is in exceptional form and once again proves how convincingly she can pull off challenging characters. An Oscar nomination-worthy performance for sure. Special mention should also go to Jordyn Curet, who plays the young Emma. Robert Pattinson, too, works hard while making his performance look effortless. Alana Haim delivers a memorable act. Hailey Gates (Misha) leaves a mark, though her character appears rather suddenly. Mamoudou Athie is dependable. Sydney Lemmon (Pauline) is decent, but her track doesn’t work as intended. Zoë Winters (the wedding photographer) and Michael Abbott Jr (Blake) add to the fun.
The Drama movie music and other technical aspects:
Daniel Pemberton's music is unconventional, just like the film. Arseni Khachaturan's cinematography is appropriate. Katina Danabassis' costumes are realistic, while Zosia Mackenzie's production design is classy. Joshua Raymond Lee's editing is slick and stylish, especially with the intentional jump cuts.
The Drama Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, THE DRAMA rests on Zendaya and Robert Pattinson’s performances, an amusing premise and several hilarious moments. However, its niche treatment, unconventional narrative style and sensitive subject matter might restrict its appeal to a wider section of the audience. Moreover, awareness appears limited, and competition from DHURANDHAR THE REVENGE and PROJECT HAIL MARY might prove detrimental. Hence, it will need strong word of mouth to attract its target elite audience.