Celine Song broke my heart when I watched her stunning, gorgeous and bitter-sweet directorial feature debut Past Lives at the 2023 Melbourne International Film Festival. So, when I heard that she had a new film ‘Materialists’ starring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans, I was keen. Not necessarily for its impressive cast, although that was a bonus, but for a new story and work from Celine Song, even if it meant opening myself up to getting my heart broken again and the film leaving me in tears.
Returning to dual roles of both writer and director, Celine Song brings to the big screens another love story, this one following Dakota Johnson’s character Lucy as she struggles to navigate being a single woman in our current social climate. Lucy also works as a matchmaker, providing a human touch to a service that apps would normally facilitate. She’s had successful matches thus far under her belt yet somehow remains painfully single.
On an evening celebrating one of her most successful career matches’ weddings, she meets the brother of the groom, Harry (Pedro Pascal). He’s dashing, suave, tall, rich, serious, enticing and persistent. Did I mention, he’s rich? At the very same event, Lucy is also unexpectedly reunited with John (Chris Evans). He’s a broke actor with day jobs, has kind beautiful eyes, a genuine soft smile, and shamelessly wears his heart on his sleeve. But who is the right guy for her? The rich stranger with the irresistible smile, or the blast from the past with a heart of gold?
Celine Song has once again used romance to cleverly weave morals and deeper meanings in her stories. Where Past Lives had history, time, cultural differences, long distance and change as catalysts, Materialists chooses to focus on asking the question about what true love is worth, all while displaying how terrifying it is to be a single woman in today’s social climate, taking great risks in more ways than one.
The story, although consisting of no Asian lead actors, still feels very Asian. It is a unique perspective that I could deeply resonate with, reminding me of the time I once visited my relatives on my mum’s side of the family back in the Philippines, and was casually told, “You’re a pretty girl, you can marry a rich man”. Back then, I was just a kid enjoying time with family overseas, I hadn’t started dating yet, let alone thought about boys in that way, and I didn’t understand the gravity of such a comment, although I didn’t feel great about it. Thinking back on it now, it still makes me feel uncomfortable to this day.
Watching Lucy interview her potential clients and hearing their demands, reminded me of when I too was single and kept a blog to write about my dates, no matter how ridiculous. I know what you’re thinking, is just the movie that’s exaggerating or is dating really that crazy? I’ll tell you now. Yes, it really is that crazy. I once had a guy take me on a date to an Asian restaurant just because I was Asian. Couldn’t figure out if I was supposed to be thankful or insulted…
The cinematography for Materialists is both clever and gorgeous. You could pause the film and Celine Song would still be giving you a unique perspective. Like the stairs in Past Lives, I also have a favourite visual moment in Materialists, this being when Lucy steps into the yellow taxi. You don’t know what the camera is focusing on at first, but then when she shuts the door, the camera has found Lucy and focuses on her. Celine Song’s signature is harmoniously marrying emotions with her visuals and leaving her audiences with a deeper feeling and thoughts long after you’ve left the cinema. Seeing Song execute this again flawlessly in Materialists just makes my heart sing.
Dakota Johnson is great as Lucy. Regardless of her choices and mistakes, you remain on her side, you feel her regrets, and hope that she makes the right decision. Pedro Pascal is hilarious as Harry and you can’t help but love him, and then there’s Chris Evans, effortlessly reminding viewers just how charming and emotive he can be as sweet John. Girl has a problem picking between the two, but damn, what a nice problem to have. The chemistry appears natural, and this is thanks to the talents of this stellar trio, perfectly cast.
If you step into Materialists thinking it’s going to be a mindless cheesy romcom, you’ll either be disappointed or surprised, because Materialists is so much more than that. It’s art with heart. It will make you think about being a single woman and navigating in today’s terrifying society, the compromises that we make in order to stand out, will make you wonder if the right person for you is still out there, think about the idea of true love, and for those of us in relationships, Materialists will smartly remind you to be thankful for the significant other that compliments your life, with relief and gratitude to already be spoken for.
I’ve already played out my own ‘Materialists’ timeline. I chose the broke guy with a heart of gold, who ended up proposing to me at a Katy Perry concert. But who would *you* choose? Amongst the characters, who would you have chosen for Lucy, and for yourself? With Materialists, Celine Song makes sure to send us home with the message that if your heart is in it, no decision is ever wrong. And yes, I did cry again.