It Ends With Us Review: Blake Lively’s movie has enough in it to make silent victims of domestic abuse, take some serious action

by

It Ends With Us Review: Blake Lively's movie has enough in it to make silent victims of domestic abuse, take some serious action

Plot:

As a survivor of domestic abuse myself, I found “It Ends With Us” to be a poignant and powerful portrayal of a woman’s struggle for freedom and self-worth. The movie beautifully captures the complexities of an abusive relationship and the emotional toll it takes on its victims.

In the narrative of ‘It Ends With Us’, the timeline shifts between present moments and past events. Initially, we find our protagonist, Lily Blossom Bloom (portrayed by Blake Lively), at her father’s funeral, expressing no affection towards him, suggesting a strained relationship. Moving on, she journeys to Boston where she encounters Ryle (Justin Baldoni), a neurosurgeon who appears short-tempered but is easy to engage and charming. Lily confides in him about some of her personal experiences, including her first romantic encounter. After an unexpected separation, they reconnect thanks to Lily’s colleague Allysa (Jenny Slate), who happens to be Ryle’s sister. Despite his persistent flirting, Lily is hesitant and only seeks friendship, aware that he’s not looking for anything serious. Contrarily, Ryle develops feelings for her and they begin dating.

At a restaurant, Lily presents Ryle to her mother, and unexpectedly discovers an old flame, Atlas (Brandon Sklenar), in their midst. They exchange brief words.

On one occasion, as Ryle was taking a hot dish out of the oven, he angrily shoves Lily aside, triggering memories of how her father would behave towards her mother. Yet, Lily chooses to downplay the incident, assuring herself that her bond with Ryle is distinct from the dynamics she witnessed in her parents’ relationship. Later, they return to Atlas’ restaurant once more, and Atlas intuits that Ryle may be mistreating Lily. In a show of concern, Atlas offers Lily his phone number for emergencies, should she ever need it.

Is Lily going to keep enduring an abusive situation or is she planning to break free from it? Can Ryle transform himself positively, and will that suffice for the change he needs? Will there be another chance for Lily and Atlas in their romantic relationship? Watch “It Ends With Us” to discover the answers.

What works for It Ends With Us:

“It Ends With Us” faithfully adapts the novel of the same name, portraying its themes tenderly and thoughtfully. It serves as a powerful catalyst for survivors of domestic abuse to seek help. Blake Lively masterfully shoulders the film, while Justin Baldoni convincingly embodies the abusive spouse. The complex bond between Lily and her mother is authentically and painfully depicted.

What doesn’t work for It Ends With Us:

Two hours can make “It Ends With Us” seem drawn out and excessively long. To enhance the film’s impact, it might benefit from additional layers of complexity in its script and a deeper exploration of its themes. A darker tone would have been fitting given the subject matter, and the character development for Atlas, an older character, could have been more convincing. It’s hard to comprehend why Lily continues her relationship with Ryle, even after leaving him when she learns she is pregnant. However, despite these concerns, “It Ends With Us” remains a compelling film that manages to avoid many pitfalls.

Watch the It Ends With Us Trailer:

Performances in It Ends With Us:

Blake Lively shines brilliantly as Lily, striking the perfect balance of qualities needed to portray Lily Blossom Bloom flawlessly on screen. Justin Baldoni convincingly embodies Ryle, fitting the role like a glove. Jenny Slate and Hasan Minhaj are delightful to watch. Unfortunately, Brandon Sklenar’s performance as Atlas is somewhat hindered by weak character development. The young Lily and Atlas portrayed by Isabela Ferrer and Alex Neustaedter are impressive. The rest of the supporting cast delivers commendable performances.

Final Verdict of It Ends With Us:

The film “It Ends With Us” might not have reached its full potential, but as a motion picture, it carries enough power to prompt quiet sufferers of domestic abuse into making decisive steps towards safety. This is an impactful movie that delivers a message that should resonate loudly and widely.

Read More

2024-08-09 08:37