Freak Show (2018)

disgusting, overrated, pointless

As Good As It Gets

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Definitely a contrast in values. A filmed hyperbole of a lone gay high school student (Bloom) challenging most everyone, but in this case mostly school mates, for the right to be himself. Represented by the two sides divergent lines: "Let's make America great again." vs. "Love who you are going to love." Basic film themes were understanding & tolerance. An aside, if you make it to the end I'm not quite sure about the honesty of the election results. The only script criticism I would have is that both sides (Bloom vs. family & schoolmates) in this mini-war should understand the challenges of the other side. Great acting; costumes. Another tolerance film recently released is "In Between", dealing w/Palestinian religious/cultural issues.

Freak Show has easily been my most eagerly awaited movie of the past year and when it was finally released I waisted no time in seeing it however I was left deflated and in need of something more, ultimately the story being told is important and deserved a better script, with more fleshed out characters, potrayls, more feeling, emotion, warmth and it was good for what it was but it could have really been special if they had of tried more.I'm new to the boundfully talented Alex Lawther and I have quickly signed myself up as a fan of his so when I realised that he was the lead in this movie I was thrilled and when you throw in Bette Midler who has been attached to this project since they beginning then I settled myself in for what I expected to be quite the treat of a movie.Early on in the movie I found myself mesmerized by Lawther, he captivates you with his genuine, awkward, honest and charming potrayal of Billy Bloom. His refreshing and quiet brilliant style of acting with his subtle yet on the money mannerisms, movements and playfulness with the dialogue is wonderful however it's just a shame that all this talent was for the most part waisted on what could have been something really special.Going in to this movie I wasn't sure what message I was going to get at the end but expected for the movie to be more multi layered than what was offered. I was expecting a world wind of emotion, anger and frustration due to story being told at the heart of the movie being unfairly and frustratingly as real in today's society as it has for generations, they issue and story deserves better and more than a one-dimentional, phone it in movie that overall for me felt like an educational movie that would be played in schools. Were was the backstory and multi-layered characters...why should I believe in and releate to Billy Bloom or get angry or a better understanding of the beliefs of Abigail Breslins character? The characters were flat and stereotypical with no depth. I wanted warmth and emotion from Billy Bloom as he fought to be who he wanted to be...i wanted anger and frustration...tears and fight when he was told he couldn't be who he wanted to be and I have no doubt that given the right material Alex Lawther could have truly shined in this role. Bette Midler as Muv was really Bette Midler being the usual Bette Midler, her character was a mess and not fully explained and appeared to be a after thought when it came to meaning and point but the same can be said for the rest of the supporting cast who looked to be phoning it in and bored throughout.Lawther is fabulous but at times can overly theatrical in a way that distracted me from what was happening in a scene, i wanted less costume changes and more storytelling...ok he is flamboyant gay but we didn't need 8-9 costume changes to make that point...less is more and I think the movie relied to much on the visual than the dialogue and meaning of why this story and issue needed to be told.In the end I wanted less FREAK SHOW and more just good old storytelling...the subject matter deserved a lot more.

First off, any review that includes the director's name in the first line or paragraph of the review was clearly written by the movie's publicity department (see all previous reviews before this one).The movie is about a flamboyantly-dressed high school teen, the bullying he attracts (big surprise there), the kids who befriend him and the witless father figure and absent mother. ...and this movie is dreadful. I was looking forward to a "be your own self" coming of age movie and the trailer looked interesting but this one makes no sense and is as unrealistic as any story could be. None of the relationships are believable, you can't figure out why the school jock would befriend this over-the-top rich kid, and everyone else is a stock stereotype. Even Bette Midler's performance, whose casting also brought me to the movie, is ridiculously over acted. I'm not sure what they intended the film's title to refer to because to call the main character a Freak Show would be bullying in itself and to call the whole thing would be, well...more accurate.

The gender-queer teenager Billy has absolutely no desire to be like the others. When called "theatrical," Billy takes it as a compliment; when his classmates feel provoked by his determination to be different, he feels even more motivated to push his limits further. Neither his father nor friends succeed when they suggest him to keep a low profile. Going to school is hard enough for a new-comer, but going dressed up as a mix between David Bowie, Lady Gaga and Freddy Mercury is even harder. Billy in his transgressing pop culture and dressed as the protagonist of Brodway Show, faces fearlessly the corridors and humiliations of classmates. I loved this movie, Freak Show does not just talk about homophobia, but celebrate the violation of conformity, praising the power of self- determination and tolerance. In aid of Billy's struggle to run for Home Coming Queen, an army of "shadow students" comes forward. Billy carries the flag of those students (and adults) who do not recognize in the mainstream and do not fit in. Let's embrace diversity then, and celebrate it! also in Italian: http://www.intrattenimento.eu/news/freak-show-impressioni-commenti/