FilmSnobReviews

Title: Bokeh
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Director: Geoffrey Orthwein, Andrew Sullivan
Starring: Maika Monroe, Matt O’Leary, Arnar Jónsson
Runtime: 1 hr 32 mins

What It Is: In photography (originally /ˈboʊkɛ/, /ˈboʊkeɪ/ BOH-kay — also sometimes pronounced as /ˈboʊkə/ BOH-kə, Japanese: [boke]) is the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image produced by a lens. In film, it is a movie about an American couple Janai (Monroe) and Riley (O’Leary) vacationing in Iceland when something happens. Now, suddenly they are the last two people on Earth. Stuck on an island far from home they must now navigate survival in a place unfamiliar to them.

What We Think: I wish the synopsis given was all the film was. Instead, the film tries far too often to be introspective and to explore the existential crisis Janai is dealing with. Riley seems more laid back in his approach. Often the film shifts too harshly in tone to be effective at conveying any of the emotional or thought-provoking elements it builds itself upon. Monroe and O’Leary are convincing and have excellent chemistry. You truly buy them as a loving couple. This is not enough sadly to matriculate the plot in a believable direction.

Our Grade: D+, There’s too much pretention here to make it worth your view. If you want something over-introspective and self-concerned than this certainly fits that bill. However, should that put you off I would both not blame you and also steer you clear of this particular piece. Fans of Monroe will take solace in knowing she continues to build a resume around good performances sometimes in spite of inferior dialogue to work with. Overall the package screams cheaply made even if there’s solid cinematography and gorgeous visuals aplenty, which there are. Seriously Iceland looks like a fog-filled paradise.