Rosy – Recap/ Review (with Spoilers)
Rosy is just too simple, with a male lead who seems misplaced, to match the assumed intention of the story. Director(s) Jess Bond Screenplay By Jess Bond Date Released (VoD) 7/17/2018 Genre(s) Drama Good If You Like Kidnapping Movies Noted Actors Rosy Stacy Martin James Johnny Knoxville Doug Nat Wolff Summary The young Ms. Rosy…
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Rosy is just too simple, with a male lead who seems misplaced, to match the assumed intention of the story.
| Director(s) | Jess Bond | |
| Screenplay By | Jess Bond | |
| Date Released (VoD) | 7/17/2018 | |
| Genre(s) | Drama | |
| Good If You Like | Kidnapping Movies | |
| Noted Actors | ||
| Rosy | Stacy Martin | |
| James | Johnny Knoxville | |
| Doug | Nat Wolff | |
Summary
The young Ms. Rosy Monroe leads a rather interesting life. One in which she is highly reliant on men to take care of and validate her and that leads to her capturing the attention of James and Doug. James is a documentarian who takes to Rosy during his separation from his wife. She falls in love but for him, it seemingly is just a rebound. As for Doug? Well, for him it was love at first sight and he knew he had to have her. So, using chloroform, he knocks her out and puts her in his grandmother’s basement. Thus leading us to a movie in which it seems Doug is trying to push Rosy to gain Stockholm syndrome but isn’t sure if it will take. Meanwhile, for months, Rosy is stuck in a room going insane and wondering if anyone out there may be looking for her. Including James.
Question(s) Left Unanswered
- Were we seeing things out of chronological order?
Collected Quote(s) or .Gifs
Right now, everything is open to you, but you’re not choosing anything. You’re just waiting to be chosen. – James
Highlights
The James and Rosy Story
What we get from Rosy is that she is young and while her parents have some money, they don’t invest it in her. So, her wanting to be an actress? That is all self-funded and seemingly it is as a sex worker or “hooker” in James’ words. Something Rosy denies, maybe because of how that would force her to realize how desperate life has become. Yet, James is her current lover and she has nowhere really to go – so, she takes what he dishes out.
Also, with him being a documentarian and talking about how he has contacts, there is a reason to stay besides a one-sided love. For he could be the one who helps her get discovered and maybe, just maybe, one day he could fall for her! It isn’t likely, for James draws a clear line in the sand, but there seems to be hope that ocean waves may wash that away. Leading to us, for part of the movie, getting an interesting indie drama. One which pushes the idea Knoxville isn’t just a stunt actor/comedian and that, like a lot of funny people, he can tone it down and get serious – even become compelling. Yet, sadly, James’ part in the film is but what you wish was the focus.
Criticism
Nat Wolff as Doug
I think I’ve come to the point in realizing, if Nat Wolff is the male lead and the female lead isn’t one hell of an actress, it needs to be a pass. Not because he can’t act, but he just isn’t the kind of actor who a film should ride on. As seen in Home Again and Paper Towns, when he’s supporting actor or part of an ensemble, he isn’t an issue. He doesn’t really stand out or deserve attention either, but he doesn’t bring down the film.
In Rosy, he brings down the film. For one, Rosy, the character, is split between scenes with him and James. Which leads you to compare Stacy Martin with both and, as noted, her story with Johnny Knoxville is superior. But then comes this vibe of Doug being that weird kid who shoots up a public place because he got rejected. And while I will admit Wolff does bring an unsettling vibe to Doug, he doesn’t take it anywhere. Which shouldn’t be something solely blamed on Wolff. You also have to blame the writing for never really exploring whatever is Doug’s issues. We learn his mom committed suicide and dad wasn’t around, but it is said so casually that you don’t take note of it.
Thus making it where neither Wolff nor Bond are able to bring the full weight of Doug’s issues to the character and leaving the film feeling a bit lopsided.
On The Fence
Rosy Is Just Dumb
Taking note Rosy is 5’7 and around 100 pounds, of course she can’t go against Doug hand to hand. However, considering how many weapons and sharp objects she had access to? Taking note, after she gains some freedom and is no longer in cuffs, there was so much she could have done, it’s frustrating to watch her squander opportunities to get free. Now, granted, I’ve never been in that situation so maybe I’m speaking from a very ignorant place. But, she is given so many chances to take advantage of Doug, especially when he allows himself to be vulnerable, that her not taking a single one makes you wonder how is she surviving doing the kind of work she does?
Overall: Negative (Skip It)
If the whole kidnapping, “You’d never get to know me if I didn’t do it,” storyline was cut, this may be something worth seeing. If not at least something which should be labeled as mixed. However, Between Bond’s writing of Doug and Wolff’s portrayal of him, neither does the other any favors. Hence the negative label for this film isn’t bad as much as it is frustrating. It presents you what could be an interesting film. A documentarian separated from his wife, barely seeing his daughter, yet shacked up with this 20 something who is in denial. But, instead, it focuses on this dude who rather kidnap a woman than put any real effort into trying to woo her.
