Fifty Shades of Grey is the 2015 film adaption of the book by the same name, written by E. L. James. This review is based on the film alone.
Fifty Shades of Grey will fail you if you are expecting soft-core porn and a romantic comedy linked together by BDSM, a wide-ranging field of sexual activities that revolve around a dominant and a submissive. You’ll be satisfied if you’re expecting a wry, psychologically intriguing film that toys with – and ultimately expands upon – the notions that are found in BDSM culture. One doesn’t have to be familiar with the subject to get the gist of Fifty Shades, but knowledge ends up being a critical component to really understanding the climax (pun not intended). The problem is, the film doesn’t equip the viewer well enough to be prepared for the current ending (don’t worry, there are two sequels lined up).
Dakota Johnson’s performance is really impressive, and by that I mean initially abysmal. Her first interactions with Mr. Grey are so dry it’s almost impossible to watch. That said, how ‘humorous’ Fifty Shades is depends entirely on how the crowd is feeling. The incredible hype and general knowledge (whether accurate or not) of the Fifty Shades book plot often left the theater giggling, mostly from the countless unintended innuendos, awkward pauses, and unanticipated admissions (“I don’t make love, I f***”). Frankly, It’s like being in on a joke the actors somehow know nothing about. Of course, the opposite of giggle-worthy scenes are cringe-worthy scenes, which I found to happen pretty often, too (they’re nearly interchangeable). But as Dakota’s character get more involved with Mr. Grey (portrayed by Jamie Dornan), we see her annoying naïveté seems to develop into a truly witty and strategic character. Her confidence with Mr. Grey (particularly during contract discussions) outside of ‘the playroom’ is admirable and balances nicely with her selflessness in ‘the playroom’. But ultimately it all seems like a head-fake in the right direction, as in a few of the sex scenes (if you can call them that), you’re reminded of her tragic “I’m 12 years old, what is sex?” personality through her dumbfounded-ness. While it can be perceived as her being clueless in this ‘new world’, it feels more like she just isn’t grasping any concepts, despite all of them being repeatedly described (and demonstrated), reinforcing her actual stupidity. It’s totally frustrating and nerve-wracking, because it becomes incredibly clear she and Mr. Grey aren’t on similar terms at all, which is rule #1 of BDSM. Someone with a deeper knowledge of BDSM would say she’s treating Mr. Grey to some sort of sideline daddy/baby girl kink, but this airhead personality extends even when Mr. Grey isn’t around.
As for Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan), BDSM is a total lifestyle. His wealth has permitted him to make his interest into a replicable, systematic hobby, complete with contracts and past experiences. But we have limited understanding of how Grey’s interest in BDSM really came about. It’s either a missed plot point or it was on purpose- suppression is simply part of the culture, and the release of said suppressed feelings… well, save that for ‘the playroom’. His personality is all control, and someone who understands BDSM will pick up on that right away. Though brutal, Grey is relatively gentle and indeed worships his subordinate, showering her with automobiles, flights, computers, clothing and more, which reads as sugar daddy rather than BDSM master. It is hard to imagine why Johnson’s character falls in love with Grey. He’s absent when needed and oddly available when he’s not. He’s tremendously reserved and conversation rarely veers from sex. That said, Fifty Shades makes the case that sex alone can carry a relationship for a while.
In closing, the film drags a little through the middle, picking up briefly for the end. Rita Ora among others have brief cameos. The soundtrack is considerable and the love scenes are unexpectedly dark and tasteful, not the raucous, wild moments that were anticipated. There is minimal nudity, mostly breasts. If you’re hoping this well get you turned on, it won’t. If you hope it gets you thinking, it probably won’t either. This film tries to usher the mainstream audience into the world of fetishes. People are weird. But even this film doesn’t totally accept that.
