Monday, November 21, 2016

Hollywood portrayal of fashion is a sugar coded reality of luxurious trips to Europe, outstanding Pret-a-porter and the opulence of the best restaurants in town. But showing the real skin of this kind of life is considered pure controversy. Films like “Devils Wear Prada”, “Zealander” “Ready to Wear” Sex and The City” are among those productions who just show you the most appealing side of fashion.

In Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive) he show a very dark and bizarre side of the industry who only shows you beauty and perfection. “The Neon Demon” tales the story of Jesse (Elle Fanning) a sixteen year old aspiring model who just moved to Los Angeles from a small town in Georgia. During the course of the first half and hour of film Jesse meets a make up artist Ruby (Jena Malone) a photographer Dean ( Karl Giusman) she is signed by Roberta Hoffman (Christina Hendricks) and becomes the object of jealousy by model competitors Gigi (Bella Heathcote) and Sarah (Abbey Lee).

Mr Refn filming portrayal of Los Angeles is far behind the film Drive, which also takes place in the same city but perhaps other universe. Most of the characters seems to have dark agendas. Hank (Keanu Reeves) the motel owner where Jesse is staying, Jack (Desmond Harrington) prestigious photographer who do a test photoshoot to create a portfolio of Jesse, and fashion designer Robert Sarno ( Alessandro Nivola) who seems completely obsesses with the a new model name Jesse and oblivious to the rest of pack of models who are just the same.

“The Neon Demon” is filled with powerful metaphors like Jesse finding a real life cougar which represents how the evolution of her from a teenager to a real woman in the fashion industry, with the release of a best within. Another is the conversation with model competitors who seems surprise that Jesse haven’t been touch by a surgeon knife to improve her beauty, while these girls been manipulate so many times in order to meet the fashion industry standard. The world where they live if just an illusion, is fake and is intended to be that way, natural beauty is impossible, as well innocence.

The story borderline in the bizarre world of David Cronenberg, the poetry of Alejandro Jodorowsy and the darkness of Gaspar Noe. The controversial last act of the film is the perfect example of how reality challenge fantasy of events that if your open enough to think, it might be true. The best who drive models can reach levels to eliminate competitors in the most obscure ways.

Cliff Martinez score mimic sometimes Vangelis, but also create an environment sad, somber and unique. The cinematography by Natasha Braier is powerful and create this world perfectly.

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