(040524) Drive Away Dolls is an energetic lesbian road trip movie featuring two
opposite romantically involved female characters that go on a cross country trip
while they are being followed by mobsters. The film is titled on screen as Henry
James’ Drive Away Dykes which I think is catchier and captures the it's tone better.
The film is trashy, derivative and low brow, but it is also often entertaining.
It could almost have been a 70s midnight cult movie like the kind of midnight
movie Claudia Jennings might have starred except it has a bigger budget and less
sex, violence and exploitative content (this is a B film and many of them were Z
films).
The film was directed by Ethan Coen who was formerly part of the best film
making duo ever apart from Michael Powell and Emerick Pressburger; the
magnificent and totally unique Coen Brothers. They were responsible for such
instant classics as Barton Fink (1991), Fargo (1996), The Big Lebowski (1998)
and O Brother Where Art Thou? (2000). Drive Away Dolls while worthwhile never
rises to that level. Even Ethan’s last film as a solo director: The Ballad of
Buster Scruggs which while uneven was more challenging, witty and quirkily
brilliant effort than this. But make no mistake; Dolls is an entertaining
lighthearted romp. This film is a pleasant and sunny contrast to Ethan’s
brother’s more serious and darker: The Tragedy of Macbeth, although it is
ultimately less aesthetically ambitious and fulfilling.
This time Ethan has a new partner, his wife and screenplay writing assistant
Tricia Cooke. Her help and experience were integral to the film because the
movie is told completely from a female point of view. Cook is also bisexual, and
the film does take us through the lesbian subculture; early scenes show the
mobsters uncomfortably visiting lesbian bars. Even though it was co-written by a
man, it’s surely a much better female centric film and it is more likely to be a
hit with both genders than more self-consciously feminist action duds like
The Marvels or Madame Web.
The tone of the film is unlike any other Coen brothers’ film. Although it
clearly recycles a few plot elements from a few of their other films as well as
True Romance, Coen brothers fans may be surprised that it is closer in tone to
exploitation films Russ Meyer’s Faster Pussycat Kill or Vixen than Fargo.
There is even a hilarious “groovy” psychedelic dream sequence in which pop icon;
Miley Cyrus bathed in day-glo color appears momentarily in a scene that could
have appeared in Russ Meyer’s Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. In the scene Cyrus
is playing the alternative sculptress from Chicago, Cynthia Plastercaster, whose
specialty was taking plaster casts of rock star genitals. Plaster casts and
dildos are also integral to the film’s plot.
It is a fun scene but speaking as someone who knew Cynthia (I interviewed her
for a web site, she spoke in my classes and we went to the same parties and had
many mutual friends) I must say that Miley does not look, sound or act anything
like Cynthia in the film. But it was delightful that the film tipped its hat to
her and that the whole film was dedicated in the end credits to my former
acquaintance.
The plot is simple and familiar with a few unexpected twists. Drive Away Dolls
is centered on a same sex couple who drives across the country to Tallahassee
with a mysterious unopened suitcase in their car. Long time cinema addicts might
recognize the "mysterious suitcase" idea which alludes to the noir classic Kiss Me
Deadly, as well as its neo-noir cinematic descendent: Pulp Fiction. The pair
acquired the car and suitcase when the rental agency mistakenly gave them the
car instead of its rightful gangster owners.
Along the way the free spirited Jamie acts as the other woman’s “manic pixie
dream girl” or spontaneous savior. She helps liberate her conservative
counterpart, Marian and teaches her how to enjoy life and take it on the chin,
but she also gets her into trouble. Because of this main relationship, the film is
sort of like an updated lesbian version of Jonathan Demme’s Something Wild with
Margaret Qualley in the Lulu/Melanie Griffith part.
It helps immeasurably that the film has two bright and talented female leads.
Margaret Qualley was in
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Stars at Noon and
Poor Things, and Geraldine Viswanathan who was in Blockers and Cat Person. The two
have great chemistry playing women that are almost every way polar opposites,
but Qualley who is the daughter of actress, Andie McDowell is particularly
delightful and she was excellent in everything I’ve seen her in. Margaret’s Jaimie is the sexually insatiable firebrand who aggressively
initiates the relationship. The more passive Geraldine is the repressed
buttoned-down prude and book worm (she particularly loves Henry James) that she
seeks to liberate. Qualley’s winning portrayal was reputedly inspired by the
screen writer, Tricia Cook, and she claimed she is basically doing an impression
of her here. Other standouts
from the good cast include: Coleman Domingo (nominated for an Oscar this year for Rustin),
Pedro Pascal (rumored to be the Marvel U’s new Mr. Fantastic), and Matt Damon.
The film does not add up to all that much in the end, but it does provide some
chuckles, chills and thrills. It's an exercise in some good mindless fun which
is fine.
Plus like all good road films it gives us some glimpses into the diverse people
and different parts of the USA. In this case that was enough for me.
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Written by:
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Screenplay by Ethan Coen and Tricia Cook |
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Starring:
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Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan,
Bernie
Feldstein |
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Released: |
Released on video on demand on 02/23/2024 |
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Rating:
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R for crude sexual content, full nudity, and some
violent content |
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Available On:
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At press time playing at Chicago and
streaming
on YouTube, Google Play, Vudu, and Amazon
Prime |
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For more
writings by Vittorio Carli go to
www.artinterviews.org and
www.chicagopoetry.org.
His latest book "Tape Worm Salad with Olive Oil for Extra Flavor" is also
available.
Mister Carli will host the program: Poetry and Film at the Back of the Yards
Branch of the Chicago Public Library on Saturday, April 13th at 3:00pm. The
public is welcome to attend this free event
Come to the New Poetry Show on the first Saturday of every month at Tangible
Books in
Bridgeport from 7-9 at 3324 South Halsted.
This is now a monthly show featuring Poetry/Spoken Word, some Music, Stand Up
and Performance Art and hosted by Mister Carli. For more information e-mail:
carlivit@gmail.com for details
Upcoming features at the Poetry Show:
April 6-Lynn Fitzgerald, Charles Haddad, Susan Hernandez, Cathleen
Schandelmeier and Kao Ra Zen
May 4- Jose Bono, Rich Experience, Don Hargraves, and Madeline Smith
June 1-Shirley Buck and Estenia Bunuelas
July 6-Mary Hawley and Mike Puican
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DRIVE AWAY DOLLS
© 2024 Focus Features
All Rights Reserved
Review © 2024 Alternate Reality, Inc. |
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