Golden Exits

Golden Exits is an intimate 2017 indie drama film characterized by meticulously drawn characters, directed by independent cinema stalwart Alex Ross Perry. Through an assuredly minimalist approach, Ross Perry intimately scrutinizes the relationships of a close-knit ensemble cast in the heart of Brooklyn, New York. The film features an ensemble cast including the likes of Emily Browning, Adam Horovitz, Mary-Louise Parker, Lily Rabe, Jason Schwartzman and Chloë Sevigny, weaving together a deep narrative of longing and disillusionment colored with understated melancholy and tension.

The movie's title, Golden Exits, evokes the impermanence of life's moments, and the prospects of both escape and uncertainty. Emily Browning plays the character of Naomi, an unassuming ingenue hailing from Australia, who stirs underlying unease in the quiet, daily routines of the other characters. Naomi arrives in New York for a few months to work as an assistant to Nick (played by Adam Horovitz), an archivist buried in his work and grappling with an uneventful life.

Caught as he is between nostalgia for his youthful exploits and the inertia of a midlife routine, Nick becomes enchanted by the youthful zest and seeming innocence of Naomi. His marriage to Alyssa (played by Chloë Sevigny), a therapist whose perception aids in grounding the narrative, becomes simultaneously more strained and more introspectively examined in the wake of Naomi's arrival. Naomi’s presence gives rise to both tension and self-evaluation, igniting sparks in the comfortable atmosphere shared by Nick and Alyssa.

In an adjacent storyline, Mary-Louise Parker plays Gwen, a darker, more jaded character, who employs Naomi's sister, Sam (Lily Rabe), as her assistant. Ironic and occasionally abrasive, Gwen is a poignant, powerfully written contrast to Naomi. The dynamics between the characters are embellished by Buddy's (Jason Schwartzman) attempts at balancing his roles as Gwen's husband, Sam's brother-in-law, and a part of the tight-knit community grappling with Naomi's arrival.

The unraveling of quiet suburban lives and the underlying tension between the characters lend the film a sense of raw reality. The discussions of ordinary struggles, human connection, and timely self-reflection enforce the film's quiet, introspective narrative arc. Golden Exits presents a rich, detailed examination of human connection, introspection, and the struggle for understanding and self-realization. The score, alternating between momentous orchestral swells and delicate piano melodies composed by Keegan DeWitt, reinforces the film’s emotional landscape.

Alex Ross Perry’s considered eye for capturing everyday conversations and emotions results in a quietly affecting portrait of human experiences. The film is further enhanced by cinematographer Sean Price Williams' shooting style, depicting Brooklyn in warmer tones, alluding to the personal nature of the film and the momentary golden exits in the characters' lives. The performances of the star-studded cast, particularly therein Emily Browning and Mary-Louise Parker, bring forth the nuanced complexities of the characters, allowing the audience a window into their struggles and triumphs.

Golden Exits isn't a movie where one can expect dramatic twists or shocking climaxes. The film is a beautiful embodiment of the term "slice of life," offering a deep and thoughtful portrayal of the seemingly banal lives of the characters. It speaks volumes of the human condition, sprawling relationships, individual identities, their occasional claustrophobia, and the longing for those ephemeral golden exits. The film reflects on the nature of happiness and contentment, the relationships we form, the ones we lose, and the choices we make along the way, bringing the audiences to confront their perception of interpersonal dynamics and self-reflection.

The beauty of this movie lies in its subtlety and introspective exploration of modern life's quiet discontents. Ross Perry uses the scenic Brooklyn backdrop to stage his character-driven narrative, drawing out performances that resonate long after the movie ends. Life's golden exits, it seems, are always approaching, always receding, beautifully encapsulated in this introspective film.

In conclusion, Golden Exits is a deeply textured exploration of human connection and self-discovery set against the backdrop of suburban Brooklyn life. With its understated narrative approach, Alex Ross Perry shines a light on the everyday, creating a world that feels both intimate and infinitely relatable, leaving audiences with a thought-provoking cinematic experience.