Female Film Critics 24/375
Genre flourishes make for an attention-grabbing visual experience, but here are only so many times the audience wants to see Jo awaken from a nightmare to be unsure if the events happened. Where the film is powerful is in its raw depiction of how overwhelming it can be to take care of a new-born and how easily exhaustion can lead to something dark and extremely alienating.
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The film’s knife-edge balance of horror and reality is effectively rendered by filmmaker Bess Wohl, boldly exposing the universal and primal fear that accompanies giving birth, and the general lack of support and understanding faced by new mothers. Jo’s eagerness to become a mother is abruptly undercut when she goes into labor and her experience of giving birth is portrayed as a painful, confusing, bloody fever dream. But Baby Ruby, when she arrives, is beautiful and perfect. Her ears stick out a little, she has an incredibly expressive face and lovely pale blue eyes. She also cries. A lot.
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In a world plagued by political polarization and ideological opposition, The Hater is a refreshing reminder of the power of empathy. The story of fiercely idealistic activist Dorothy (writer/director/star Joey Ally) and her crusade against her childhood-tormentor-turned-smarmy-politico Brent (Ian Harding) promotes understanding of both the dismayed outrage of liberal progressives and the staunch independence of born-and-bred conservatives. The resulting comedy is more likely to provoke thoughtful laughter than knee-slapping guffaws.
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Joey Alley is a sort of a one-woman band as she makes her feature directorial debut based on her own original screenplay while starring as the main character in The Hater. As Dorothy Goodwin a California resident, a dedicated environmentalist and a liberal speechwriter on a U.S. Senate campaign who loses her job after al protest about a flag goes wrong. This political comedy layers on such hot-button topics as gun control, abortions, climate change as well as support for our veterans.
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The Hater plays out against the backdrop of the 2020 election cycle. The dialogue feels incredibly natural, slyly introducing important national platforms. It’s funny and tangible. Beyond the liberal slant, the concept that “we are more alike than we are different” is the major theme. Watching women discuss politics is ceaselessly entertaining. The takedown of toxic masculinity with passion and logic is unmistakable. While you’re not looking, The Hater is predominantly about empowering women. Writer/director/star Joey Ally doesn’t ignore the reality of both parties using dirty tactics. Through moral ambiguity and a whole lot of laughs, I loved every minute of this film.
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Palm Springs holds the record for the biggest film sale at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, and it broke the record for the most-viewed Hulu release in its first weekend on the streaming service. An obvious descendant of the Groundhog Day plot device, it’s set a destination wedding at which Nyles is a guest; he’s the nihilistic boyfriend of a bridesmaid named Misty.
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