Christine (2016)
2016
R
123 Minutes
Christine is an ambitious 29-year-old news reporter, in Sarasota, FL, circa 1974. Relentlessly motivated to succeed, she knows she has talent, but being a driven career woman in the 1970s comes wit...
User Review
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Christine is a harrowing character study that struggles to maintain viewer engagement. This is a study of Christine Chubbuck, a news reporter who took her own life live on TV. The inevitable scene where she attempts suicide was always going to be the moment that shocks the audience, but behind that is what truly captivates us. It isn't so much about the suicide, but more about Christine herself and what lead her to do this. An extremely complicated individual. Struggling socially and in her career, the downward slope towards depression was rather haunting to watch. I felt for her. She clearly wasn't the most approachable individual and her constant self-doubt ultimately lead her to her own demise. Her home life was awkward, as she still lived with her mother, and her disillusioned love for a co-worker made matters worse. It was evident that she wanted to matter, wanted to feel loved. Depression is a serious subject, and this film portrayed it with tenderness. Rebecca Hall continues to be one of the most underrated actresses working today. This is her best performance to date. She was outstanding. Her attention to detail is extraordinary, particularly as she imitated Christine's mannerisms such as a slight lean forward as she walks. The supporting cast were lesser known and I personally admired that, the focus is on Hall and should always be. Antonio Campos' directing style was very close and personal which suited the subject of this film. We follow Christine as her world continues to close in on her, having the camera always focus in on her allows that idea of being trapped to be conveyed. Unfortunately though, the screenplay isn't always engaging. Various scenes felt unnecessary and detracted from the main subject. Also the ending was too long, should've stopped as soon as she committed suicide. Would've been far more poignant. However, Christine is an extremely haunting tale of a woman who struggled so much that she took her own life, just not always compelling. Hall's best performance though, that alone is worth the watch.0 member like this review.
