A Big Bold Beautiful Journey
- Gus Keller
- Sep 30
- 1 min read
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey uses a high concept for earnest drama. Though heavy-handed, it examines themes of hindsight, opening up, and seizing the day. Purposefully unnatural, the dialogue feels fantastical while distilling conversations. Its humor can be mediocre but at least it isn't broad. Backstories, flaws, internal conflicts, and growth flesh out the protagonists. Abstract yet focused, its premise shapes an obvious but relatable metaphor. There's blunt exposition, predictability, and excessive trauma bonding. Still, its effortless acting softens artificiality through layers, vulnerability, range, and chemistry. Thus, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey overcomes its weaknesses.
Attempting to merge intimacy with surrealism, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey can be clunky yet deserves credit for its aspiration. Focus, framing, angles, and lighting pop throughout the cinematography. Despite losing momentum, its editing sprinkles set pieces inside a favorable runtime. Split cuts, silence, risers, and brief action create an emotional soundscape. Its production design establishes dreamlike settings with noticeable primary colors. The cast's excellent fame plus talent buoy the material. There are mild effects in the forms of CGI, stunts, and prosthetics. Although less than the sum of its parts, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey has praiseworthy ingredients.
Writing: 7/10
Direction: 7/10
Cinematography: 7/10
Acting: 8/10
Editing: 6/10
Sound: 7/10
Score/Soundtrack: 8/10
Production Design: 8/10
Casting: 9/10
Effects: 7/10
Overall Score: 7.4/10
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