A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is a new film set to release in theaters this upcoming Friday, September 19th. Written by Seth Reiss & directed by Kogonada, the film stars Margot Robbie, Colin Farrell, Kevin Kline, Lily Rabe, Jodie Turner-Smith, Billy Magnussen, Sarah Gadon, Brandon Perea, Hamish Linklater, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Sarah and David are single strangers who meet at a mutual friend’s wedding and soon, through a surprising twist of fate, find themselves on a funny, fantastical, sweeping adventure together where they get to re-live important moments from their respective pasts, illuminating how they got to where they are in the present…and possibly getting a chance to alter their futures.

It feels like I am one of the few people in the world that was excited about this. Everything about this screamed importance to me. I was a big fan of Kogonada’s last film, After Yang. Colin Farrell & Margot Robbie are two of my favorite working actors. The trailers made it look like the production design & cinematography was going to be amazing. For most of the film, I had this euphoric feeling I rarely get in films. The two that come to mind are Babylon & Perfect Days – two of my favorite movies of their respective years. You’d think this might be my favorite movie of the year, and it’s awfully close. After sleeping on it, I still believe the first act could have done a bit more with its story and characterization.

When you look back at Kogonada’s prior filmography, this is his most commercial film to date. What I personally loved about the film can easily be something viewers won’t like. The unique concept is intentionally vague as it establishes an art house approach. Being familiar with Kogonada’s prior work, I felt like I went into this with the right mindset. The first act, in particular, feels rocky as it doesn’t quite know how to get to the good stuff. The way characters talk, while funny, can also be clunky. The characters also easily go on this adventure without much of a fuss or questioning how they are able to do this.

What viewers will undoubtedly love are the performances. Kogonada strikes gold with his lead talent. It already makes it easy since Farrell has worked with the director before on After Yang. The chemistry Robbie & Farrell have is unreal. They are a match made in heaven. They evoke so much emotion without saying much at all. Even when they do talk, they don’t need to say everything that’s on their mind. Their characters just understand each other.

It’s a little confusing as to what’s going on at first, but once you understand, it all clicks. These two single characters who have never had to embrace the hardships of their past open themselves up in order to find a way to be with each other. From the way I see it, they’re not literally seeing everything the way everyone else might. It’s through the way these characters feel that they are able to see something they can only understand together.

Going into this, I don’t think I was all that surprised by the rating due to what Kogonada has done before. However, I was surprised by the rating due to the genre. The film takes a big risk by being rated R. A rating is not something I really talk about, but it’s admirable when a film like this goes the extra mile with making the dialogue as authentic as possible. Take out the foul language and you’d probably get a PG-13 movie that might do better at the box office. The film is taking a big risk that may not do well on opening weekend due to its rating, but I can see it doing better over time.

I rarely watch trailers nowadays due to how much they spoil. Sometimes, you just can’t miss it and that’s the case with this film. I actually don’t regret watching the trailers I wasn’t able to skip. Based on what I saw, I was excited by the cinematography & production design, and the film lives up to my expectations. The film is not just beautiful to look at, but everything is properly placed and satisfying. While there are some visual effects that may look off, I also think the decision is intentional to show that what these characters are seeing is indeed not real. For as visually appealing as it is for this specific type of genre, this is something you don’t want to miss. The sound design also fully immerses you into each scene as it feels like you’re being teleported through each door with each character. The film is surprisingly quiet, but also quite effective.

The film is also surprisingly funny & emotional. Phoebe Waller-Bridge probably gives the funniest moments and makes the most out of her minimal screentime. The characters are incredibly complex, making them relatable, which makes what happens to them even more emotional. Some of the context in the way things happen may confuse viewers, but I strongly believe the film is on to something that is meant to be as thought-provoking as it is emotional.

Overall, I personally loved A Big Bold Beautiful Journey. It’s one of the best movies of the year. If I had it my way, I think the film should be recognized for its performances, cinematography, production design, and direction during awards season. The film accomplishes so much that makes the viewing experience rewarding. I already can’t wait to watch it again and again.

VERDICT: 4.5/5 (Amazing)