Pieces of a woman

Once I heard this film was coming out, I was very excited. I always look forward to any film Shia Labeouf is doing and I'm a big fan of Vanessa Kirby and like the idea of her doing something different than action movies.

Starting off the positives, easily the two lead actors are the best thing about this film. They deliver incredible and award winning performances. Vanessa Kirby shows she is more than an action film star and she is a true authentic and incredible actress.

Now I understand Shia Labeouf has been controversial over the years but I still like watching him mainly due to nostalgia. I always enjoyed the films he was in during the mid 2000s but I may start checking out his independent stuff because he is just fantastic in this film. I'll have more to say about his character later on but his performance as a grieving father is just fantastic.

This film also has an incredible opening act where you become engrossed in the film during the first 30 minutes. I honestly couldn't take my eyes off the screen. The cinematography is just so captivating and we get one of those filming styles where it seems it's filmed in one take and whilst it may not have been and just edited to seem like it, it's so believable and realistic.

Finally I really appreciate this film doesn't hold back and goes for really gritty and hard to watch scenes. There's one scene in particular where I had to turn away. This film doesn't sugarcoat the subject matter and I always love it when films do that.

Onto the mixed aspect of the film, first it's just to say this is not and I mean, not for everyone. In fact I will strongly urge those who have been through stillbirths and baby related events not to watch this film because as I said before, this film doesn't hold back and for certain people, this film will be too difficult to watch.

Also I found myself really mixed on Shia Labeoufs character. Whilst he gives a fantastic performance and you sympathize with his character because of the events of the film, his character is also very unlikable and does a lot of questionable things throughout the duration of the film.

Onto the negatives now and there's a few things. First off, this film never seems to live up to its first 30 minutes. After it's first act, there's so many points where the film drags on scenes and slows to a halt.

Also I wasn't a fan of some of the story directions for some of the characters. Where the main story I found captivating and extremely powerful, the direction for the characters, particularly Shia Labeoufs character, is just frustrating and slightly distasteful.

Overall this is a beautifully made, powerfully acted but tough to watch film that i would recommend but only to a certain range of people due to this films subject matter.

⭐⭐⭐