The Movie Journal

  Big Little Lies: Season 1, Episode 7 "You Get What You Get" SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!!!!!!!!! Season 1 of Big Little Lies went out with a big bang. The ending is shocking, unforgettable, and exhilarating as we finally learn who got murdered and the reasons why it took place. While the basic premise is a whodunit murder investigation, the real story is about women empowerment in their everyday lives. How nothing is stronger than women bonding and friendship. After a heartfelt apology, Renata joins the circle. Her character wasn’t exactly an evil woman after all; just a protective mother. This episode also shows why men can be so toxic. Of course, Alexander Skarsgard’s Perry is a horrible person no matter which way you look at it. He beats Celeste and it is later revealed that he is the same person who raped poor Jane. He is the one who tried to beat all the women in this crazy ending, but it was ultimately Bonnie (whose abusive past was alluded to) who made the final, fatal push th...

  Big Little Lies: Season 1, Episode 6 "Burning Love" March 26, 2017 “Burning Love” is a very riveting episode that leads up into the finale. Some characters begin to play around with the pieces designed to be placed in the finale. These characters begin to lose their façade here. For example, Celeste begins to take her therapist’s advice to find a new place, to protect herself from Perry. That happened when Perry claimed, “I could have killed you,” after she whacked him with a tennis racket in self-defense. Also, Renata takes down her controlling persona a notch when Jane confronts her about Ziggy. Could these women, who differ so much yet are caring mothers, could become friends? I really liked how the episode gave Bonnie more to do. She became front-and-center in terms of Abby’s project and discussing it with Nathan. Yeah, this is another excellent episode that reminds you how gifted all of these actors are and how well they perform together. In this episode, Celeste’s t...

  Big Little Lies: Season 1, Episode 5 "Once Bitten" March 19, 2017 “Once Bitten” is the most powerful episode of Big Little Lies yet. This is the episode where everything falls apart for the three main leads; Celeste, Madeleine, and Jane. Each woman gives a heartfelt, emotional performance as they try to escape the demons within their lives. Jean-Marc Vallee’s direction is as showy as it gets and he revels in his directorial duties with the big stuff, such as car accidents, happening. The writing remains as strong as ever. They really did an excellent job capturing the realism of domestic violence, as I have pointed out in past episodes. Here, they take it to another level. The therapy session is a very strong, emotional scene. Robin Wiegert, who channels her inner Judd Hirsch from Ordinary People , is able to draw out the truth from Celeste about her abusive relationship. The episode incorporates flashbacks to show the searing pain and suffering that Celeste takes from the ...

  Big Little Lies: Season 1, Episode 4 "Push Comes to Shove" March 12, 2017 In “Push Comes to Shove,” control and power are some of the main themes that are heavily on display. Celeste begins to show command and power that she thought she had lost when she gave up lawyer duties to become a full-time mom. Her husband, of course, objects because he is the man in control. Jane tries to find power as she internally struggles with how to find the man who raped her. Madeleine tries to find control within her marriage as she complains about her sexless life, yet kisses Joseph, the play director. As you can tell, each character internally struggles with how much power and control they have. That said, I find it hard to believe that any woman would turn down Adam Scott in a vampire Elvis costume. Like all episodes to this point, the acting has been magnificent. Heavy themes are tackled throughout. The cinematography and the music remain exquisite and gorgeous. Madeleine’s quest to h...

  Big Little Lies: Season 1, Episode 3 "Living the Dream" March 05, 2017 “Living the Dream” is an excellent episode. You start to see some of the strings being pulled as we march towards the end of our murder mystery conclusion. This episode is not about the murder mystery at all. It tackles serious themes of motherhood. Plus, we go deeper into the lives of some of the characters. Renata, for example, is truly not the villain. She is just a mother who is willing to humiliate herself to make sure her daughter gets what is best. The viewers also see that her rather deadbeat husband may be the best husband in the show…and that is saying something. Rape is also a central theme with Jane and Celeste both at the forefront. It can be a hard watch, but it is a necessary one. This is a powerful, emotional, and well-acted episode, Witherspoon, Kidman, Woodley, and Dern all deserve Emmy recognition. Let’s throw Skarsgard in there while we are at it. Renata’s daughter, Amabella is havi...

  Big Little Lies: Season 1, Episode 2 "Serious Mothering" February 24, 2017 In “Serious Mothering,” themes the show is trying to display is coming to life in this season’s second episode. One of the main themes is bravery. Ziggy going back to school after the accusation, Ed standing up to his wife about a relationship that ended fifteen years prior, Madeleine confronting Renata about a birthday party, etc. These characters show exemplary acts of bravery in this episode. The tension is unreal during this episode. I had to double check to see that no act of murder was secretly committed behind everyone’s backs. This episode proved that the pilot was no fluke. I am truly immersed in everyone’s lives now. People often compare Madeleine to Witherspoon’s character in Election, but all grown up. She is the busy bee who needs to be at the center of attention. Her loyalty to her friends is unwavering, but some people do not like her kind of craziness. Just ask Bonnie or the guy di...

  Big Little Lies: Season 1, Episode 1 "Somebody's Dead" February 19, 2017 Big Little Lies hooked me from the very first shot. The show has an interesting premise. It is advertised as a murder drama wrapped around several domestic fronts. At first glance, the show has the elements to be pure trash. After all, it is based off one of those airport fodder stories. Within the first fifteen seconds, you know the show goes above and beyond. Season 1 is helmed by Jean-Marc Vallee, the man behind Wild and The Dallas Buyers Club . The cast is A-grade, led by Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, and so much more. The narrative is driven in a unique way led by flashbacks and interwoven investigation interviews of supporting characters. While the “murder” may be the main draw, the story is about the characters and their families and the type of lives they lead. I love the soundtrack and the beautiful California cinematography. Any shot of crashing waves at ...