A Bigger Splash Blu-ray Review
A BIGGER SPLASH is a beautifully filmed erotic drama from Director Luca Guadagnino. It’s got everything a hedonist would want. That would be sex, drugs and rock n roll. This is a movie that is worth checking out.
Tilda Swinton stars as David Bowie-esque rock star Marianne Lane, who is vacationing with her younger filmmaker boyfriend Paul (Matthias Schoenaerts) in the remote Italian island of Pantelleria. She is recovering from vocal surgery, so she can only whisper. This is a neat trait suggested by Swinton’s desire to not talk in the film. It certainly pays off in various scenes. It is also refreshing to see an older woman with a younger man for a change. Why do the guys have to have all the fun?
You see Marianne and Paul’s ravenous sexual appetite early on as they have sex in the water. Their quiet playground is interrupted by the arrival of Harry (Ralph Fiennes) with his daughter Penelope (Dakota Johnson). Harry is a famous producer who used to date Marianne. He just found out about his daughter a year ago and he has a lot of catching up to do.
The film uses selective flashback to shape the story. We glimpse Marianne in her stage getup and recording a song. It also shows the time Harry introduces Paul to Marianne. Harry thought they would be good together after his romance with Marianne flamed out. But you know the old saying. Be careful what you wish for.
Pantelleria is a key supporting player in the proceedings. Cinematographer Yorick Le Saux perfectly captures its beauty. The blues of the water sparkle. The villas are stunning to look at. The architecture is shown off. The beaches and cliffs are dazzling. If the island wants more tourists, this would be the film to show.
Music also plays a big part. There’s a great scene where Harry talks about his work with the Rolling Stones. He plays a song where there’s a trash can used which Harry orchestrated. Then Harry plays the song “Emotional Rescue” which could serve as the theme for this film. It is cathartic to see the characters dance around. Other times the music used is odd and doesn’t fit the scene. I gather Guadagnino is trying to throw the audience off with these choices. I don’t think it always works.
A BIGGER SPLASH expertly explores several relationships. First you have Marianne’s relationship with Paul. It looks strong on the surface. But we soon learn that Paul attempted suicide a yr earlier and had a serious drinking problem. They each have taken turns nursing the other. Now Paul is nursing Marianne with her vocal issues.
Another relationship is the one between Harry and Penelope. It is uncomfortably close. There is a bar scene when they do “Unforgettable” together and you could swear that they are dating. Harry deals with unvarnished truth. When confronted about how close they are, Harry admits to thinking she’s sexy. But he’s only known her for one year and he is not having sex with her. This declaration is to Marianne as he tries to woo her away from Paul.
Then there’s the relationship between Paul and Penelope. They are the two youngest people in this group and Penelope flirts incessantly with him. Paul rejects her advances for a while. They go on a hike together and it’s left open ended what happens between them.
The rivalries between Penelope and Marianne and Paul and Harry might be the most intriguing relationships that are dissected. Marianne doesn’t know how to navigate around Penelope. Is she friend or foe? Harry and Paul are essentially fighting over the same woman. There is electric tension between them that can ignite at any time.
There are a lot of secrets and lies that get revealed as the film moves along. A sharp turn in tone occurs ¾ of the way through that almost derails it. But somehow it gets worked out where it makes everything come together.
A BIGGER SPLASH is a smart sexy film about relationships and the tangled webs they weave.
BLU-RAY REVIEW
Video: Stunning transfer. Pantelleria looks beautiful on the screen. The blues and greens just pop.
Audio: The sound was decent. I did have to put the closed captioning on to pick up some words however.
Promotional Featurettes: These are short segments where the main cast discusses their characters, the work relationship between Swinton and the director, the locale and how the story was shaped.
Previews, Theatrical Trailer, Gallery