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How entertaining? ★★★★☆
Thought provoking? ★★☆☆☆ 17 April 2015
This article is a review of NASTY BABY.Seen at the Berlin International Film Festival 2015. (For more information, click here.)
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“How’s your camel-toe hanging?” Freddy (Sebastián Silva)
“How’s your loose butt-h*le?” Polly (Kristen Wiig)
Writer-director Sebastián Silva’s variety of mumblecore misanthropy has been lightened due to two comediennes: Kristen Wiig and Alia Shawket (ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT). Wiig has her humorous excesses curtailed here, and can of course play it straight (HATESHIP LOVESHIP), but her charisma can take a hit doing so – NASTY BABY thankfully does not squeeze out what makes her special.
Silva taking on lead duties too might have produced a tedious vanity project; fortunately for all concerned, he injects flaws into his character. (Freddy’s temper will repeatedly haunt him.) Not wasting movie time, Freddy explains to an art gallery owner, Marcus (Neal Huff), a departure from his usual work: A video installation entitled, ‘Nasty Baby’, consisting of him and his pals dressing up as adult babies mimicking newly born mannerisms. Scepticism across the face of a tastemaker, reflects are own (maybe it doesn’t, if so, shame on you). Wait till it comes to almost fruition for excruciating comedy value. Might Larry David nod in approval?
“How’s your loose butt-h*le?” Polly (Kristen Wiig)
Writer-director Sebastián Silva’s variety of mumblecore misanthropy has been lightened due to two comediennes: Kristen Wiig and Alia Shawket (ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT). Wiig has her humorous excesses curtailed here, and can of course play it straight (HATESHIP LOVESHIP), but her charisma can take a hit doing so – NASTY BABY thankfully does not squeeze out what makes her special.
Silva taking on lead duties too might have produced a tedious vanity project; fortunately for all concerned, he injects flaws into his character. (Freddy’s temper will repeatedly haunt him.) Not wasting movie time, Freddy explains to an art gallery owner, Marcus (Neal Huff), a departure from his usual work: A video installation entitled, ‘Nasty Baby’, consisting of him and his pals dressing up as adult babies mimicking newly born mannerisms. Scepticism across the face of a tastemaker, reflects are own (maybe it doesn’t, if so, shame on you). Wait till it comes to almost fruition for excruciating comedy value. Might Larry David nod in approval?
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Ego knock to Freddy comes sooner, when Polly reveals his sperm count is too low for her to conceive. Baby obsessed, Polly’s desire carves out some of her ability to empathise. Previous romantic exploits not expounded, we guess she has given up waiting for Prince Charming; gay best bud was the current option and now founders. Clearly desperate, Polly insensitively immediately asks if Freddy’s boyfriend, Mo (Tunde Adebimpe – RACHEL GETTING MARRIED), would consider the now available baby-maker role. Manliness given a blow, the news also affects his art project: Being a surrogate father was to be part of the work.
Previous two movies were low on substance, Silva now talks overtly about sexuality and race. Jocularity and mild social observation are a welcome addition to the filmmaker’s repertoire. Though, we are not in a Ken Loach space or anything, what with gibes like Polly being called a “sperm vampire”.
Living in a trendy, newly gentrified part of Brooklyn, Mo and Freddy, and their neighbours (including reliably crotchety Mark Margolis (DINNER RUSH) as Richard), have a local mental health-suffering anti-social to contend with, Bishop (Reg E. Cathey – HOUSE OF CARDS). Class and mind fragility now on the agenda, Silva appears to be stepping it up a gear. Unfortunately, these new directions are only cursory in nature – not permitted to trip up an entertaining story, which unexpectedly suddenly shifts genres. Buying plot escalation depends on how much investment in the protagonists you have. Somehow solipsism can be endearing.
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