As a seasoned movie buff who’s seen more films than I care to remember (and some I wish I could forget), I must say that Emma Stone’s performance in Cameron Crowe’s 2015 film, “Aloha,” is a shining beacon amidst the cinematic chaos that surrounds it. Despite the movie’s dismal critical reception and underperformance at the box office, Stone manages to deliver a compelling portrayal of Air Force pilot Allison Ng.
Not all films featuring Oscar-winning actress Emma Stone are critical successes, and this is no exception. Before her Best Actress awards for “La La Land” (2016) and “Poor Things” (2023), Stone took on the role of Air Force pilot Allison Ng in Cameron Crowe’s “Aloha.” The film finds Ng, a space enthusiast with an unexpected romantic interest in Bradley Cooper’s character Brian Gilcrest. Released on Netflix, “Aloha” has been making its way up the top movie charts as viewers are drawn to – or perhaps re-explore – Crowe’s contentious comedy-drama.
As a movie enthusiast, I’ve been quite surprised by the reception of the film “Aloha.” On Rotten Tomatoes, it scored only 20% from critics, which isn’t great, and among audiences, it barely improved to 29%. This places it above films like “Marmaduke” (2010) and “Movie 43” (2013), which had a 9% and 5% rating from critics respectively, as one of Cameron Crowe’s lesser-rated works. It’s puzzling to understand why this film, directed by Crowe and featuring an impressive cast including Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone, John Krasinski, Rachel McAdams, Alec Baldwin, and Bill Murray, hasn’t resonated with audiences as expected. It’s been a while since the success of “Jerry Maguire,” and since the turn of the millennium, Crowe’s filmography has shown its fair share of highs and lows. It’s unlikely you’d find “Aloha” on any list ranking Crowe’s best films.
As a film enthusiast, I must admit that “Aloha” can be a bit of a jumbled narrative at times, making it challenging to follow along. But if you’re seeking top-notch acting from Emily Blunt, she certainly delivers. The dynamic between Bradley Cooper, Emily Blunt, and Rachel McAdams, with McAdams portraying Cooper’s former spouse, is undeniably the film’s strongest point. Unfortunately, the side story featuring Bill Murray’s character attempting to launch a satellite into space seems almost irrelevant, and it feels like a missed opportunity to have such a talented actor like Murray underutilized, as he’s given minimal opportunities to shine in this movie.
Letterboxd Users Hate the Movie, But Still Love Emma Stone
In most films, including ‘Aloha’, the acting, particularly that of Stone, tends to shine above other aspects. Many users on Letterboxd have singled out her performance as exceptional in their recent reviews, despite criticizing the film’s storyline for being confusing or nonsensical. However, Stone’s performance and a peculiar telepathy scene involving Krasinski and Cooper are consistently commended. Unfortunately, ‘Aloha’ has received a poor rating of 2.2 on Letterboxd, placing it among some of the lowest-rated films on the platform.
At the time of its release, there was significant controversy over the portrayal of Stone’s character. Critics claimed that Crowe, in playing this role, had ‘casted white’, given that the character is part Hawaiian and Chinese. In response to these criticisms, the filmmaker addressed the concerns on his blog.
As a cinephile, I want to express my gratitude for the heartfelt feedback on the casting of Emma Stone as Allison Ng in our film. Your voices have been heard, and I acknowledge your feelings of dismay over what seemed an unusual or questionable choice. Allow me to extend my sincere apologies to those who felt this decision was off-target.
Currently, the movie “Aloha” represents Crowe’s latest feature film production. Following this, he has only been associated with a David Crosby documentary that he produced. Interestingly, the reception of this film hasn’t affected Stone, as she has managed to win two Best Actress Oscars since its premiere.
Aloha
is streaming now on Netflix.
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2024-09-09 21:02