FAB or FLOP? | 'Fifty Shades Darker' Film Review
'Fifty Shades Darker', the sequel to its predecessor 'Fifty Shades of Grey' carries on where its protagonists left off. Christian (Jamie Dornan, 'The Fall') is wrestling with his inner demons, while Anastasia (Dakota Johnson, '21 Jump Street') must confront the anger and eve of the women who came before her.
With a cast that boasts big names such as original 'Batman' alumni Kim Basinger and respected television actress Marcia Gay Harden, the casting of singer turned actress Rita Ora will undoubtedly date the film due to her 'It Girl' factor in the music scene right now.
On the other hand, two talented newbies in Australian Bella Heathcote ('The Neon Demon') and Eloise Mumford ('The River') make the audience question why actresses with great potential ever agreed to perform in such a poor novel-to-film adaptation.
The latest instalment of what originated as 'Twilight' fan fiction, its hardly a step in a darker direction. The coupling of Johnson's Anastasia Steele - who can barely emote more than a whimper in her supposed lover's direction, and Dornan's Christian Grey - who has seen better days on television's 'The Fall' and 'Once Upon a Time', is such an unlikely pair seemingly devoid of chemistry; so much so, that Director James Foley and Writer Niall Leonard seem to make up for it in quantified sex scenes that leave viewers blushing. Arguably, there is absolutely no substitute for chemistry when it comes to films categorised as 'Romance'.
Though it will inevitably peak in its ticket sales, the poor casting of 'Fifty Shades Darker' still seems to enrapture its female fanbase. Further baffling are Anastasia's complaints about Christian's intense desire to own her, yet merely two scenes later, she is in awe of a closet full of designer clothes that he's gifted her.
Then, when Anastasia is shocked at Christian's bedroom dominance, the audience is forced to question her characterisation yet again when she soon requests to be spanked. There is no good explanation for the lack of attention given to one of the film's protagonists. In watching the film, it is really hard to decipher what Johnson's character actually wants.
'Fifty Shades Darker' is a film that sends viewers back into the dark days of women's limited rights, turning the equality clock backwards, and ironically is hardly a film that represents the BDSM community in any facet.
It is misogynistic at its core and treats the protagonist as something that should be owned. 'Fifty Shades Darker' expectantly leads the charge on one of the year's worst films - with movies as poor as this hitting the big screens, we starting to think just anyone can do it.
'Fifty Shades Darker' is in cinemas everywhere, just in time for you to slide into something more uncomfortable for Valentine's Day.
