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***“The face is what one cannot kill, or at least it is that whose meaning consists in saying: ‘thou shalt not kill.’” — Emmanuel Levinas*** That is the exact heart of this film. It is a brutal, beautiful exposure of how society strips away someone’s humanity just because of their outward appearance. This movie totally wrecked me, but in the best way possible. I honestly didn’t expect the story to feel this deeply human and real. David Lynch did such an amazing job here. The gritty black-and-white look gives Victorian London this stunning, dark atmosphere that makes the whole viewing experience feel so intense. John Hurt’s acting through all that heavy makeup is a literally unreal. Even though you can barely see his actual face, his voice and posture show so much kindness and dignity. The scene where he finally breaks down and screams, *“I am not an animal! I am a human being! I am a man!”* is easily one of the most devastating and powerful moments ever put to screen. Anthony Hopkins is perfect too, playing the doctor with a subtle sense of guilt that makes you question if he’s genuinely helping or just using Merrick for his own social status. Every single scene carries so much emotional weight. A truly beautiful piece of cinema and Lynch classic. An absolute masterpiece.

I absolutely loved this movie. It takes what could have been a standard, corny romance and turned it into an intense, and deeply human story. Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence have an unreal chemistry. They play these two deeply broken, volatile people who are trying to navigate their own mental health, and their interactions feels so raw and alive. Jennifer Lawrence completely earned her oscar here; she brings this fierce, unpredictable presence to every single scene she’s in. On top of that, De Niro is fantastic as the obsessive, superstitious dad, adding such a great layer of grounded family tension. It is funny, chaotic, stressful, and heartwarming all at the same time. Such a feel good film, T*he Notebook* could never.

This film is the epitome of all style, no substance.  Truthfully, the films inflated reputation feels directly tied to the massive media hype surrounding Ryan Gosling as opposed to the strength of the script and craftsmanship itself.