SHARP OBJECTS
US, 2018, 320 minutes, Colour.
Amy Adams, Patricia Clarkson, Chris Messina, Matt Craven, Henry Czerny, Eliza Scanlan, Madison Davenport, Miguel Sandoval, Will Chase, Taylor John Smith, Elizabeth Perkins.
Directed by Jean- Marc Vallee.
Sharp Objects is based on a novel by Gillian Flynn. Her book, Gone Girl, was a bestseller and made into a successful film.
The film focuses on a journalist, played with nuance by Amy Adams. Her dominating mother is played by Patricia Clarkson. There is a very strong supporting cast including Chris Messina as a visiting detective, Matt Craven is the local police chief, Henry Czerny is Alan as the more submissive husband.
The series was directed by Jean- Marc Vallee, best known for his film C.R.A.Z.Y, as well as achieving Oscar nominations for The Dallas Buyers’ Club. He was very successful with the miniseries, Big Little Lies.
After an opening in St Louis, the film moves south to a small town, abattoirs and factories with a lot of migrants, some white Southerners who feel trapped in the town. The main plot concerns the deaths of three young teenagers, brutal deaths, a detective called in from Kansas City to help investigations, the chief being rather laid-back. There are two suspects, the father of one of the girls, the brother of another girl.
The journalist, Camille, comes to her hometown, stays with her mother in a kind of love-hate relationship. The film has quite a number of flashbacks from Camille’s point of view, the past with her younger sister who had died, her defiance of her mother, the mystery of her absent father, her decision to leave home. She has had mental health problems and is alcoholic.
The film shows the town through her eyes, the people from the past, interactions with the chief, difficulties with the detective and then a sexual relationship with him. She writes articles, interviews people, gets more information.
Then there is a younger half-sister who is being dominated by her mother – and the mother, always with the genteel manners of the South, eschewing any mention of the killings, not wanting gossip, controlling her laid-back husband. It eventually emerges that she medicates the young daughter just as she did in the past, her situation being diagnosed as a particular condition, over-mothering, killing with kindness.
There are twists in the plot as to who killed the young girls – and the final revelation at the end and during the final credits.
1. The popularity of the miniseries? The popularity of the novel? Eight chapters, time and space for plot development, characters? The significance of the title and the images of sharp objects?
2. The strong credits, Gillian Flynn and her writing, Jean- Marc Vallee and his reputation as a director? Amy Adams, Patricia Clarkson and the strong cast?
3. The opening in St Louis, the newspaper, Camille and her life, her past, psychological condition, tired? The editor giving her the commission? Her being wary?
4. The return to her town, driving through the town, its look, absence of people, small town America? The homes, mansions, shops, police precincts, the abattoirs and the factories? The migrants?
5. The range of the musical score, the background of songs – and those from the past?
6. The mystery, the dead girls, three, two bodies, one disappeared? The mutilation of the teeth? The discovery of the girl in the water? The girls themselves, their links, age, their families, the grieving father, John as the grieving brother? Speculation about their motives? The townspeople suspicious?
7. The intercutting the flashbacks? Camille and Marian, as girls, the bonds between them, the play, getting into mischief, the dangers? The role of the mother, the presence of Alan? Marian, her illness, her death? The solemnity of her funeral, her mother, Camille’s odd behaviour? Camille, cutting her hair, the absent father, the decision to leave home?
8. Adora, Patricia Clarkson, a genteel woman of the south, as wife, as mother? Her relationship with Alan, his presence, quiet, her dominating him? Marian, illness, her mother tending her, her death? The new child, Amma, her care for her? The details of life it, dressing up Amma, concerned about her health? Her reaction to Camille’s return, having Camille in the house? The role of the police Chief and his visits? Not wanting gossip, not wanting to talk about the crimes? Her friendship with Jackie and the other women in the town? The link with the dead girls? The celebration, dressing up, the historical performance? Her preparing the medication, controlling Amma, making her sick, the motivations, using the same medication with Camille?
9. The importance of the diagnosis of Adora’s obsession, her mothering, controlling?
10. Camille, her articles, the phone calls to the editor, the comments of his wife? The town’s reaction to the articles? Her interviewing people, getting information, the speculations? The visit to Jackie, remembering the past and her presence?
11. Richard, his presence in the town, the detective, from Kansas, not wanted by the police chief? The tensions with Camille? The attraction, sharing, the sexual encounters and the effect on him, on her? Camille and the meetings with John, believing him, meeting him at the bar, going to the room, the sexual encounter and her motivations, the arrest and its impact? Her drinking, alcoholism, hangovers, sometimes going home, not, nights in the car?
12. John, the grieving brother, relationship with the mother, the funeral and her denunciations? His weeping? His relationship with Ashley, Ashley controlling him? Suspicions, his going out, Ashley betraying him? The sexual encounter with Camille? Richard and the interrogation, the sheriff and the arrest?
13. The sheriff, his personality, role, quiet, not wanting to gossip, his dislike of Richard being in the town, the investigation? Scenes at home, his wife, the visits to Adora, Alan and his negative reactions? The discussions with Camille? Watching the girls on their skateboards? The search for John, the arrest, the interrogation?
14. Alan, a passive presence, quiet, love for music, his not being a successful father, yet his memories of the young girls? The controlled man? Attitude towards Adora?
15. Jackie, the personality, drinking, the past, gossiping, the confrontation with Camille?
16. The range of townspeople, the search party, the talk, the women and the socials, the town celebration, the people enjoying it, the barber and the chief and Richard, the men
in the bars?
17. Amma, her age, Adora dominating her, her welcoming Camille? Her erratic behaviour, with the girls on the skateboard, the gossiping, drinking? Dressed as a Greek goddess by her mother? The medication, the detrimental effect?
18. Camille, the effect of this experience, succumbing to her mother, the medication? Her wondering about her having the same diagnosis as Adora, killing with care?
19. Richard, the to the hospital, the nurses, getting the records, the diagnosis? Giving the documents to Camille?
20. Adora, the arrest, the glimpses of her trial, prison, the visits?
21. Amma going to St Louis, the friendships, playing with the girl? Her relationship with Camille?
22. The final revelation, the twist, the murders, Adora going to prison for her daughter?
