Babygirl Review: Nicole Kidman Stuns in Steamy Showcase of Sexual Desire

by

As a lifelong fan of Nicole Kidman and erotic thrillers, I can confidently say that Babygirl has solidified its place as one of the best Christmas movie subgenres for me. Having grown up with the tantalizing allure of Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut, I was eager to see Halina Reijn’s fresh take on this captivating genre.

As a holiday enthusiast, I find that Christmas films run the gamut from heartwarming family flicks to edge-of-your-seat action thrillers. No matter if you prefer to snuggle up at home with a solo viewing or join the ranks of “Die Hard” devotees, there’s always a movie that fits like a glove for the festive season.

But the best Christmas movie subgenre has to be Nicole Kidman erotic thriller. We saw our first entry in 1999 with Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut. Now Halina Reijn, director of Bodies Bodies Bodies, brings us Babygirl, which stars Kidman as high-ranking CEO begins a sexually thrilling fling with a much younger intern at her company.

Reijn demonstrates her skill as a storyteller yet again by presenting a captivating opening scene that offers a glimpse into Romy Mathis’ private life with her husband Jacob (played by Antonio Banderas). The narrative is intriguing, delving into her domestic sphere. We get a sense of her dissatisfaction despite her successful career and two children. An unexpected twist unfolds when Samuel (portrayed by Harris Dickinson) begins interning at her company, leading to an unusual dynamic as he shows excessive interest in her, which she reciprocates.

From here, we have a steamy love affair that grabs you by the throat. Reijn does an exceptional job helming the erotic scenes, allowing it to be sexy without being excessive. She makes a wise choice to not drown anything out with musical score. We hear every bit of their arousal, allowing it to feel awkward and dirty. It also implicates the audience as voyeurs, almost as if we were sitting in the same room as them, watching them commit these sensual acts that play around with their power dynamic. Although Romy outranks Samuel at the company, their dynamic gets shaken up during their intimate moments.

In this movie, I found Nicole Kidman delivering an outstanding performance, particularly for those who’ve seen her recent work in Netflix’s A Family Affair where she portrayed women yearning for younger men. This film takes that concept a step further, allowing Kidman to delve deeper into a character who has spent years grappling with feelings of unfulfillment. Babygirl beautifully captures this sense of longing, showcasing how it builds up until it finally bursts out. The character Romy is a woman who succumbs to her darkest instincts but finds herself at a juncture where she must confront the tension between her deepest desires and the image she maintains at her workplace.

In Reijn’s screenplay, Babygirl experiences intense moments without sacrificing its authenticity. Unlike many similar movies, this one steers clear of extreme graphic violence. Instead, it delves into the ethical dilemmas arising from the situation and portrays the high stakes involved. Romy, who must hide her relationship with Samuel from her family and her company, adds an element of excitement to the film. As Samuel gets more entwined with her family and the truth starts to surface, the tension builds. What attracts Romy and Samuel to each other becomes intriguingly clear, but when we understand what truly excites Romy, it’s startling.

One aspect that Babygirl seems to lack is a deeper connection with Samuel. Although Dickinson delivers an impressive portrayal of the enigmatic stranger, he remains largely one-dimensional throughout the film. This might be due to the fact that the narrative is primarily seen through Romy’s eyes, which may explain why she doesn’t appear to be overly intrigued by him beyond the physical attraction and the excitement of clandestine encounters. The movie could have been enhanced by exploring more about Samuel’s motivations and justifications for his actions.

In this movie, Kidman once again showcases her extraordinary acting skills. This year alone, she has been a regular face in both films and television series, featuring prominently in “Expats” on Amazon Prime Video, “The Perfect Couple” on Netflix, and “Lioness” on Paramount+. Since 2001, we’ve seen at least one of her movies every year without any dip in quality, as she consistently delivers top-notch performances. Antonio Banderas gets a compelling role in this film, and the cast is solid with no weak links.

The film, Babygirl, occasionally provides unexpected humor. It’s a unique blend that is both laugh-out-loud funny and stomach-turning. It’s provocative and concludes with an unforeseen twist. This movie skillfully explores hidden desires, forbidden impulses, and the consequences of infidelity. Presented with a neutral perspective and a sensual gaze, it’s not a family-friendly Christmas movie, but rather one that appeals to more mature audiences, particularly fans of its lead actors.

SCORE: 8/10

According to ComingSoon’s review guidelines, a rating of 8 signifies “Excellent” or “Great.” Although there are a couple of small flaws, this rating indicates that the artwork accomplishes its purpose effectively and leaves a lasting impression.

Disclosure: ComingSoon attended a press screening for our Babygirl review.

Read More

2024-12-27 01:40