Babygirl review – Nicole Kidman sex-positive erotic thriller fails to bring the menace
Kidman’s CEO submits to Harris Dickinson’s hot intern in an age-gap drama that lacks any real danger or transgressive bite
Cosy crime is one thing. Is this a cosy erotic thriller? An apparently super-transgressive exercise in workplace sub/dom role play but that is weirdly without any actual emotional or corporate consequence, without the menace that was supposed to make it so exciting. Writer-director Halina Reijn gives us what looks like, and in many ways is, a sex-positive reboot of the 90s high-concept erotic thriller. You might set it alongside Barry Levinson’s 1994 film Disclosure about sexual harassment with Michael Douglas and Demi Moore, the twist (or op-ed talking point) in that case being that it was the woman harassing the man.
Nicole Kidman plays Romy, an inspirational CEO of a hugely successful company in the big city specialising in fulfilment-centre automated delivery systems; she is married to Jacob (Antonio Banderas), a theatre director currently working on a production of Hedda Gabler, Ibsen’s play about an unhappy marriage, with trendy Ivo van Hove-type projections on screen. They have two teen daughters, one queer, one apparently straight. Romy and Jacob have a lot of sex, but she can only really climax by rushing off to another room straight afterwards and watching porn on her MacBook; Jacob doesn’t seem to wonder where she’s got to. Romy’s career is sailing along and, interestingly, she is absolutely upfront about the Botox she’s getting and endures with motherly exasperation jibes from her daughter about resembling a “dead fish”.
Continue reading...Topics
-
More fizzle than pop: the limits of Nicole Kidman’s erotic drama Babygirl
Despite bold scenes for mainstream American cinema, the sexy dom/sub age-gap film can’t quite figure out what it’s saying about desire. Arguably the most transgressive scene in Babygirl , A24’s ...The Guardian - 13h -
TGL, Tiger Woods' tech-infused indoor golf league, debuts to positive reviews and good vibes
The Bay GC of Shane Lowry, Ludvig Åberg and Wyndham Clark claimed the first match in a runaway.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
The Bright Side by Sumit Paul-Choudhury review – harnessing the power of positive thinking
A witty and empathetic examination of the merits and limitations of optimism is a helpful guide with a hopeful message for uncertain times. In the final episode of Welcome to Wrexham ’s third ...The Guardian - 1d -
UK financial regulator failed to uphold rules for handling FOI requests, review finds
Report calls for Financial Conduct Authority staff to be retrained and adds to mounting criticism of watchdogFinancial Times - 2d -
All-Bust Fantasy Football Teams for 2024: Why C.J. Stroud failed, plus the worst draft picks at every position
What went wrong for Stroud? Check out the full all-bust rosterCBS Sports - 2d -
See Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman and More at W Magazine’s Golden Globes Party
Celebrities packed into a suite at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles for the W Magazine party on Saturday night.The New York Times - 3d -
‘The more relaxed you are, the better you are as a human’: Nicole Kidman on Kubrick, sharks and risk-taking
The Oscar-winning American-Australian actor answers questions from Observer readers and famous fans including Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Jackman and Naomi Watts. Nicole Kidman has finally found a way ...The Guardian - 3d -
Germany debates menace of ‘firework bombs’ after New Year’s violence
Deaths and clashes with police mar celebrations, with officials calling for tougher curbs on use of powerful fireworksFinancial Times - 5d -
'Babygirl' filmmaker Halina Reijn had no problem directing steamy sex scenes
Halina Reijn didn't have to research how to direct sex scenes in 'Babygirl,' having acted in her share of them. But it helps to have a plan, she says.Los Angeles Times - Jan. 1
More from The Guardian
-
California fires live: sixth wildfire breaks out in Los Angeles as five people killed and landmarks threatened
Evacuations ordered from Hollywood Hills due to new Sunset fire, as fire crews battle to contain destructive blazes. Full report: overwhelmed firefighters struggle to contain blazes Visual ...The Guardian - 21m -
Meta’s factchecking partners brace for layoffs
Meta has provided over $100m for certified organizations to conduct factchecks on its platforms since 2016. Mark Zuckerberg’s decision to end factchecking on Facebook and Instagram in the US ...The Guardian - 8h -
Trump shares inflammatory video with crude reference to Netanyahu
President-elect’s post featuring economist Jeffrey Sachs comes weeks after Israeli PM claims two had a ‘warm’ chat. Donald Trump has shared inflammatory video content calling Benjamin Netanyahu a ...The Guardian - 6h -
‘We’re done’: owner of Walter White’s house in Breaking Bad puts it on market – for $4m
Modest family home in Albuquerque has a price tag fit for a meth kingpin – but owner Joanne Quintana warns buyers to prepare for hundreds of visitors a day. The modest suburban home used as Walter ...The Guardian - 2h -
North Korea learning from fighting with Russia against Ukraine, US warns
Diplomatic and military ties with Moscow making Pyongyang ‘more capable of waging war’, official says. North Korea is benefiting from its troops fighting alongside Russia against Ukraine, gaining ...The Guardian - 8h
More in World
-
California fires live: sixth wildfire breaks out in Los Angeles as five people killed and landmarks threatened
Evacuations ordered from Hollywood Hills due to new Sunset fire, as fire crews battle to contain destructive blazes. Full report: overwhelmed firefighters struggle to contain blazes Visual ...The Guardian - 21m -
Israeli Soldiers on Vacation Are Being Investigated for War Crimes in Gaza
The Israeli military will no longer identify its forces by name in the media, “fearing the arrest of soldiers abroad.”The New York Times - 33m -
Footage of India mock train crash sparks false claims about 'fatal accident'
Yahoo News - 44m -
Rachel Reeves heads to China to build bridges, but a new golden era of relations is impossible
Seeking business partners post-Brexit is sound policy, but even in these darker geopolitical times the UK will ultimately side with the US. Rachel Reeves will fly with a delegation of City grandees ...The Guardian - 59m -
Elon Musk is a monster bully on the loose, but he can only get his way if we let him | Martin Kettle
The democratic order has faced down tyrants and megalomaniacs before. The name of the game for liberals for 2025 and beyond must be survival. They can smell the fear. And they are thrilled by what ...The Guardian - 59m
