Annette Parent Guide
This experimental arthouse production has beautiful aesthetics which are overwhelmed by negative content.
Parent Movie Review
Henry (Adam Driver) is a stand-up comic who specializes in edgy, boundary pushing humor. Ann (Marion Cotillard) is a famous opera singer gifted with a magnificent voice. When the two meet, sparks fly and they embark on a whirlwind romance, culminating in the birth of their daughter, Annette (Devyn McDowell), whose mysterious gifts will turn the family’s lives upside down.
Annette is an extremely artsy and experimental film. Right off the bat, if that’s not a style you generally enjoy, there’s no need to read further; this is not the movie for you. I have been known to enjoy an artsy flick from time to time, but unfortunately this one just didn’t do it for me. From an academic standpoint, I can appreciate the beauty and art in this production; it just didn’t come together as a whole viewing experience. There’s amazing visual storytelling, symbolism, character work, and cinematography in this production, but it’s weighed down by self-indulgent pretention. I found myself cringing more than celebrating, and looking at my watch (or more accurately, my phone) instead of being immersed in the story.
My greatest gripe with the whole thing is the wigs. Who put that abomination of a hair piece on Marion Cotillard? But seriously, I found myself somewhere between bored and confused for most of my viewing. Again, it’s gorgeous and innovative, but that doesn’t necessarily make it worth over two hours of my time. This is a movie that I predict will be divisive, both amongst critics and general audiences. There will be some people who absolutely love every second, and some who don’t. I fall into the latter category, as I suspect most people will, but for those in the former, it will be a revelatory experience.
Assuming you enjoy artsy, experimental productions and you’ve made it this far, I’ll warn you that the film’s R rating is well earned. There’s sex and nudity, language in abundance, as well as near constant substance use. Between the pretentiousness and the negative content, I’d say this is going to be a miss for most people, but film students will be picking it apart for years to come, and I’ll be trying to get the puppet that plays Annette out of my nightmares for just as long.
Directed by Leos Carax. Starring Adam Driver, Marion Cotillard. Running time: 139 minutes. Theatrical release August 20, 2021. Updated February 24, 2022Watch the trailer for Annette
Annette
Rating & Content Info
Why is Annette rated R? Annette is rated R by the MPAA for sexual content including some nudity, and for language
Violence: A man makes jokes about suicide. Fake gunfire is used as part of a performance. Two men fight each other, until one holds the other under water for an extended period. A person walks away and leaves someone to drown. A man drives although he says he’s impaired. A man’s abusive behavior is mentioned. Multiple death scenes are played in a theatrical context. A ghost sings about haunting someone.
Sexual Content: There are multiple explicit sex scenes which include visible breasts. A man is shown with his head between a woman’s legs performing a sex act we can’t describe on a family website. A man is seen holding a woman’s breasts and thrusting from behind. A man is seen with non-explicit nudity in sexual contexts. A man shows his butt to an audience as a joke. A man licks a woman’s feet. A man and woman are frequently seen kissing.
Profanity: There are approximately four dozen swear words in the film. Most notably there are just under three dozen sexual expletives in addition to scatological terms, crude anatomical terms, and some terms of deity. A man makes an anti-Semitic comment.
Alcohol / Drug Use: Adult characters smoke cigarettes throughout. Adults drink alcohol throughout. A man is shown to be drunk multiple times.
Page last updated February 24, 2022
Annette Parents' Guide
How does Henry feel about his wife’s success compared to his career? How does that affect his actions and his addictions?Home Video
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Adam Driver plays another angry husband in Marriage Story, a depressing tale of modern divorce. He portrays a dedicated senate staffer in The Report, in which he researches the use of torture against terror suspects.
Marion Cotillard stars in Two Days, One Night, playing a woman who must persuade her fellow employees to help save her job.