*"If I was sometimes a failure as a parent, just know that these were noble failures..."
*
Fairyland, an adaptation of Alysia Abbott's memoir of the same name, is a moving yet stilted look on an unconventional father-daughter relationship set in the backdrop of 70s/80s San Francisco, and the tragic AIDS epidemic comes into play as father Steve is one of the victims of the virus. Book adaptations can be hit-or-miss, and while some of the pacing and dialogue leaves an unbalanced, disjointed experience (some scenes feeling overlong and others feeling rushed), the finishing line is still extremely devastating. Scoot McNairy plays Steve Abbott's complexities with much conviction that you grapple with liking his character one second and questioning his parenting skills the next - which ultimately becomes challenging as his final scenes are some of the most raw pieces of the entire film. I wish we could've gotten more focus on his activism and literature background, as some of those scenes that do make the film are among the most compelling. Both Alysia Abbotts - Emilia Jones and newcomer Nessa Dougherty - also lend terrific scene work opposite McNairy's Steve and furthermore wishes that we've could've gotten more of them with him in a limited series format. This wish also comes into play when you look at the supporting cast, who, while solid, come and go with limited screen time - from Geena Davis as Alysia's concerned grandmother to Cody Fern and Adam Lambert as some of Steve's lovers (both of whom received unresolved developments) to Maria Bakalova as a kooky roommate who shares a quieter moment with Jones' Alysia in the second half. The cinematography really pops in the first half of the movie, which was shot on film - in contrast to the second half, which is shot on digital - losing some of the nostalgic spark that left a cozy feeling in the first half. It's no surprise to see that the film features a producer credit from Sofia Coppola, as some of those cozy vibes feel reminiscent to a few of her own films.
All in all, a mixed bag in a puzzle that has pieces missing that could've enhanced certain moments better.
*"If I was sometimes a failure as a parent, just know that these were noble failures..."
*
Fairyland, an adaptation of Alysia Abbott's memoir of the same name, is a moving yet stilted look on an unconventional father-daughter relationship set in the backdrop of 70s/80s San Francisco, and the tragic AIDS epidemic comes into play as father Steve is one of the victims of the virus. Book adaptations can be hit-or-miss, and while some of the pacing and dialogue leaves an unbalanced, disjointed experience (some scenes feeling overlong and others feeling rushed), the finishing line is still extremely devastating. Scoot McNairy plays Steve Abbott's complexities with much conviction that you grapple with liking his character one second and questioning his parenting skills the next - which ultimately becomes challenging as his final scenes are some of the most raw pieces of the entire film. I wish we could've gotten more focus on his activism and literature background, as some of those scenes that do make the film are among the most compelling. Both Alysia Abbotts - Emilia Jones and newcomer Nessa Dougherty - also lend terrific scene work opposite McNairy's Steve and furthermore wishes that we've could've gotten more of them with him in a limited series format. This wish also comes into play when you look at the supporting cast, who, while solid, come and go with limited screen time - from Geena Davis as Alysia's concerned grandmother to Cody Fern and Adam Lambert as some of Steve's lovers (both of whom received unresolved developments) to Maria Bakalova as a kooky roommate who shares a quieter moment with Jones' Alysia in the second half. The cinematography really pops in the first half of the movie, which was shot on film - in contrast to the second half, which is shot on digital - losing some of the nostalgic spark that left a cozy feeling in the first half. It's no surprise to see that the film features a producer credit from Sofia Coppola, as some of those cozy vibes feel reminiscent to a few of her own films.
All in all, a mixed bag in a puzzle that has pieces missing that could've enhanced certain moments better.
