I usually love A24 movies and I’m a big fan of Anne Hathaway, but this ended up being a plodding, tedious watch that literally put me to sleep several times. The central issue is that a film feels like the wrong medium for this kind of story. Two people talking in a room might work well on stage, but stretched into a two-hour movie, it just drags. Even strong performances from Michaela Coel and Anne Hathaway couldn’t save it, largely because of the script’s limitations. The concert scenes are well done and briefly sparked my interest, but they’re overshadowed by long stretches of artsy, empty, and overly metaphorical dialogue that doesn’t really lead anywhere. In the end, it works better as a sleep aid than as an engaging film.

prolly the worst movie I’ve ever seen

Fantastic soundtrack. Overall a good movie about holding on to pain and ultimately finding a way to let it go. I think this movie will be devisive because of the focus on dialogue and imagery, but I found it beautiful and powerful.

I often say on this blog that the best stories are those about stories. Mother Mary is something very close: art about art—barely a story, more a portrait that’s being painted as you watch. The emotional bond between Mary and Sam is kept tight, on the verge of snapping, under looks of compassion that shoot daggers and poisoned recriminations coated with sweetness. Mother Mary isn’t trying to convince you that artistic creation has to hurt; it just assumes that it already does. So it’s fitting that Mary shows up on a Thursday to request a dress for the Sunday: the exact timeframe for a full Via Crucis and resurrection. More at Nerds of a Feather: http://www.nerds-feather.com/2026/07/film-review-mother-mary.html