FILM: DEAR OLIVIA WILDE, YOU DON'T NEED TO WORRY DARLING

BY: Louise Barretto

Harry Styles and Florence Pugh star in Don’t Worry Darling

It seems like backstage shenanigans have taken centerstage on the Don’t Worry Darling Press Tour — namely: Olivia Wilde and Harry Styles’ relationship, Florence (Pugh) and Olivia’s rumored screaming match (which has been denied in an open letter from crew members), Chris Pine & Harry SpitGate at Venice Film Festival, not to mention the Shia LaBeouf video receipt that he quit the film versus rumors that he’s been fired.

Amidst all this, it’s easy to get lost in opinions and tabloid headlines, all the negative hype around the movie distracts from the fact that Olivia Wilde did a decent job directing this 35M budget thriller. Only her 2nd feature film as a director, she has room to grow. Yes, the film’s pacing could be better and Wilde could have moved the story along quicker so that audiences are at the edge of their seats instead of time checking and waiting for it to be over. Having said that, the cinematography, production design, costumes and hair were all visually stunning. She made a lot of amazing choices as a director, and will live to direct another film. She has talent and everyone seems so quick to judge her skills as if she has to be perfect and make an instant masterpiece. Many renowned and celebrated directors had lower stakes projects where they had room to fail, experiment, make their mistakes before being put up to the public for scrutiny. And no, their personal lives were not put under a microscope either. So there’s clearly a double standard for a female director such as Wilde.

The script failed to fully develop Chris Pine’s ringleader character and would have been served a lot more if the audience were also lured into the utopian world the characters are all in. Harry Styles is a movie star. His acting chops are decent, but just falls short next to the genius of Florence Pugh. It’s hard to separate Harry the popstar from his character, and that worked for the film, until it doesn’t. He also needs more time to develop his craft as an actor, if he can find time between his crazy touring schedule. I believe that Harry will eventually hone his craft as an actor and can potentially blow us away with future performances as an actor. It’s a waiting game and only time will tell. I am hopeful that the best is yet to be seen from Olivia and Harry alike, so there’s no need to worry darling.