Martha Marcy May Marlene

Continuing my "Best of the Rest" series featuring films from 2011 that I didn't think got nearly the credit they deserved I give you Martha Marcy May Marlene. This is a hauntingly beautiful film about a teenage girl who runs away from home only to unknowingly be taken in by a cult. "Martha" is portrayed by the amazingly talented Elizabeth Olsen, in fact she's so good in this film (her first by the way) that I almost forgot she's related to those Olsen's. The film is wonderfully directed by first time writer/director Sean Durkin, who weaves a fantastic piece of non-linear story telling masterfully. Though the film often jumps back and forth between Martha's time with the cult and her present day surroundings where she's been taken in by her estranged sister Lucy(Sarah Paulson) and Lucy's husband Ted (Hugh Dancy) you never seem to lose your place. Her time in the cult is chilling to say the least, the women are often separated from the men, and used only for household chores and sex. While the cults leader "Patrick" played by the always stellar John Hawkes holds sway over the cult using both a tactile force and an almost calming manipulation. Martha's naivety is pounced on immediately by Patrick and she soon becomes one of his most trusted allies, but an unforgettable event forces Martha to flee the cult, turning to the only person she has left, her sister Lucy. Once back in the real world Martha struggles to come to grips with the life she's left behind and her current environment where she really doesn't seem to belong. This film can only be described as a slow roller coaster, twists and turns are abound, but it's done with such a paced cadence that the details are really given time to sink it. This was easily one of the best films I saw all last year and I am greatly encouraged by the new careers of both Elizabeth Olsen and Sean Durkin. I was very impressed to see two people make such an impact in each their debut film, and I can only hope for much more impressive work to follow. 

****1/2

Matha Marcy May Marlene

writ. and dir. Sean Durkin

feat. Elizabeth Olsen, Sarah Paulson, 

and John Hawkes(R)