The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed (2023)

The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed (2023). 1h 27m

“Greetings again from the darkness. Itu0026#39;s billed as a comedy, though for many, the funniest part may be in trying to remember the filmu0026#39;s title. Deadpan reaches a new level in this debut feature film from actor-writer-director-producer-editor Joanna Arnow. Itu0026#39;s tough to recall any film that more belongs to one person. Indie filmmaker Miranda Julyu0026#39;s work is the closest I can think of, yet in comparison, her work comes closer to mainstream Spielberg than it does to this one from Ms. Arnow. None of that is meant to be harsh, itu0026#39;s simply a challenge to describe this film to anyone who hasnu0026#39;t seen it … or even to someone who has.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film is divided into five chapters, each named for the key u0026quot;otheru0026quot; characters (not named Ann). Arnow stars as Ann, and the opening scene finds her in bed next to the much older Allen (Scott Cohen). Itu0026#39;s here we discover sheu0026#39;s age 33 and has been Allenu0026#39;s submissive since age 24. In fact, two of the chapters are named u0026quot;Allenu0026quot;, and Ann even suggests they were u0026quot;destined to be togetheru0026quot;. She makes this proclamation after a couple of attempts to try a modern approach to dating, each creating complications for her. These ventures are presented as vignettes and include a musician, a sleepover with her sister, a role-play costumer, dating app (mis) matches, and a film buff with a love of pickled herring. To cap it off, these interactions provide a certain symmetry with Annu0026#39;s soulless work at a generic corporation. Imagine being rewarded with a one-year acknowledgement after youu0026#39;ve worked there more than three years. You are getting a sense of Annu0026#39;s personality … somewhat less than memorable.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAnn is slumpy and frumpy, and her deadpan delivery masks a sharp wit and a spark that rarely comes through to others. As she begins the foundation of a more traditional relationship with Chris (Babak Tafti, u0026quot;Billionsu0026quot;), her path to self-discovery seems to open up … although that path may or may not surprise you by this point. Some of the vignettes are shockingly brief, and many feature Ann in an exposed (literally) state of vulnerability. As the vignettes zip by, watching this isnu0026#39;t dissimilar to scrolling through a feed. Joanna Arnowu0026#39;s real life parents (David Arnow, Barbara Weiserbs) play her parents here, and serve up the only raised voices in the film as they sing an animated version of u0026quot;Solidarityu0026quot;. And no, Annu0026#39;s relationship with her parents is not much different than the rest of her life. At times, this u0026#39;comedyu0026#39; feels like a beatdown, but leaves us with one key life lesson: pay attention the first time you ask, u0026quot;What college did you go to?u0026quot;.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOpens April 26, 2024.”