Every once in a while, there comes a ‘???’ movie w some very talented actors that makes you question their choices. “Miller’s Girl” is that movie for Martin Freeman and Jenna Ortega. I mean… yeah I get the whole ‘unconventional storytelling’ thing, but what about the other factors? A mid-AF script, uneven pacing, and absolutely no thrill in what’s supposedly a thriller? Martin and Jenna deserve much better, and so do we.
Plot
Okay, so the best I can describe Miller’s Girl is by comparing it to a Wattpad story written by a teen. So, basic storyline ye hai ki Cairo gets tangled up in this forbidden romance with her high school writing teacher, Jonathan Miller, played by Martin Freeman. Now Miller’s a failed author drowning in his own regrets and going through an existential crisis and stuff, and Cairo’s just… bored and looking for some excitement in her mehhh life. Bass phir kya, they get into a mess and you know from the very beginning ki this isn’t gonna go down well. But just when you’re starting to get invested, the plot decides to go cringe and istg, pura mood kharab ho jaata hai.
Performances
Okay, Jenna Ortega is the real standout here. Love how she’s choosing challenging roles one after another. Have absolutely become a fan of her ever since Wednesday. Idk, there’s something about her in this movie… she’s both vulnerable and intimidating, calm and volatile as Cairo, and you keep thinking about her character throughout the movie. But her chemistry with Freeman doesn’t really come through, and you can sense that it gets weird. Martin Freeman‘s solid as ever, but he doesn’t quite give Miller the depth he needs. Also, is it just me or he still hasn’t gotten over his Dr. Watson arc??? He seems like he’s just playing different versions of Dr. Watson now.
Direction and Writing
This is Jade Halley Bartlett’s debut movie as director, and tbh you can clearly see that. She takes up a v challenging topic first up, and tries her best to give it a direction, but it doesn’t come through. Full marks to her to create Cairo’s goth girl persona though, comes off very well. Otherwise, the plot twists are predictable and the movie seems very unevenly paced. Like, there are vvv engaging scenes, and then there are some that simply do not want to end at all. Also, the dialogues are straight-up cringe. Yeah, we get the dozen literary references, it seems fun, but why do you gotta make them talk like they are in a 1900s novel?? Very forced and unwanted tbh.
Screenplay and Cinematography
When you look the movie up on Google, genre waale section mein it says ‘Thriller’. But when you watch the movie, you keep searching for the thrill until the credits roll. The screenplay is just too straightforward. The plot twists don’t work, and there’s nothing really to build the tension. It’s like they’re trying to give this seductive vibe to the story, but it ends up feeling awkward and forced instead. But the cinematography mannn. This is gotta be one of the most beautifully shot movies I have seen this year. The way they have filmed Jenna Ortega’s gothic girl era scenes, the way they’ve shot Cairo and Miller’s interactions, it’s just *chef’s kiss*. Wish it could cover up for the fck-ups in the story, but you and I both know that’s not possible.
So, “Miller’s Girl” is like that friend who’s got all these big ideas but doesn’t quite know how to bring them to life. There are moments of intrigue and promise, especially with Ortega’s performance, and how the movie starts, but it keeps getting worse with each passing minute. No doubt this is a commendable attempt by Bartlett to try something different, but this one just misses the mark. Skip kardo guys.
