Ingrid becomes obsessed with a social network star named Taylor Sloane who seemingly has a perfect life. But when Ingrid decides to drop everything and move west to be Taylor's friend, her behaviou...
Masterclass Ingrid Goes West (2017)
Director: Matt Spicer
Ingrid Goes West is very much a low-high movie. I would say high-low, but it breaks that formula, by creating a very dark beginning and then introducing a gleaming beacon of hope later on. The real question is, will that hope stay? That is the main issue with the film.
Aubrey Plaza stars as Ingrid, a 20 something social-media obsessed girl who begins to get very depressed soon after her mother dies. She crashes the wedding of a girl she barely knows, and is then put in a mental ward for a little while. Soon, however, she discovers a new obsession: Taylor Sloane, a photographer/foodie/style guru that seems to live a nearly perfect life. When Taylor responds to Ingrid’s comment on her post, Ingrid decides the best thing to do is pack her bags and move to LA to try to befriend Taylor. Plaza is a unique and talented actress, who, despite playing many similar, sardonic roles, always brings something new to the table. Her performance carries the film, as it is a constant battle of whether you should sympathize and cheer for Ingrid, or whether you should condone her actions, since she is clearly not of stable mind and not apt to make the best decisions. Plaza makes you really think hard about it, because just when you think you see that human element of her, she does something or reacts in a way that makes you realize her instability. Elizabeth Olsen has had a big year for film, and although she is playing a valley-girl who rarely reveals her flaws, I believe she shows more range in this movie than Wind River. The two have a very interesting dynamic, even with the extremely awkward dramatic irony the viewer can feel while watching the two interact like old friends. The cinematography is modern and distinct, mixing in the desert views with neon nights and directly capturing the social-media age. O’Shea Jackson, the hard yet goofy landlord, is my favorite part of this film. It’s so frustrating to watch it and realize that he is the only person that Ingrid is actually herself around, yet he is always an afterthought for her character- a good design by the screenwriters.My biggest issue with this movie is the tone, and the overall theme it tries to establish. SPOILERS AHEAD. I can put aside the fact the over-the-top kidnapping because of Ingrid’s mental state, but when the big climax came I was just a little disappointed. It was actually a really beautiful, albeit dark scene when Ingrid attempts to commit suicide, and they could’ve ended it there. However, there is a Dan Pinto ex machina and a strange message about attention someone receives when someone tries to end their life- 13 Reasons Why got the same backlash. The ending is not as effecting as it should be because of Dan, a supposedly good guy, reappearing and commending Ingrid for all the likes she got on her post. It doesn’t make a lot of sense, and the lead up to that moment probably should’ve been really stretched out in order for the audience to be at least a little disturbed by what they just saw. I was empty on that account and nothing in me learned its lesson about the unfortunate impact Instagram and other social media can have. Ingrid Goes West is still one of the smarter and more compelling movies of 2017, and therefore should get some well-earned credit for Neon studios.
