Amanda Seyfried finally sheds her innocence in this week's release, Lovelace. The film is a chronicle of Linda Lovelace's marriage to Chuck Traynor and her brief stint in porn that ultimately lead to her legendary status in the adult film industry.As a movie there are vast inconsistencies and major tonal shifts that make it a hard film to fully immerse yourself in. But, it's still an interesting character study that not only captures the struggles of Linda Lovelace but gives an insight into a period of pornography that was revered by the general public and was considered a mainstream form of entertainment. Oh, how the times have changed.
Seyfried has always been an above par actress. With roots based in television acting, she has finally grown into a full on leading lady. She's never shined as bright as she does in Lovelace. Of anything she's ever done, this is the first time she's truly run the emotional gamut by not only shedding her clothes but by taking on a real life role while embodying a beaten, raped, and battered woman. This is not a pretty story and its not poetic either. It's sad, desperate, and overall a disturbing tale set in a reality that wasn't too long ago. Amanda Seyfried captures the character and the look while dominating every scene with her stunning looks, charisma, and full grasp of who Linda Lovelace was as a person.
Lovelace is a violent picture that paints Chuck Traynor as a controlling individual that forced Linda in to a life of pornography and prostitution. As usual, Peter Sarsgaard takes his role and runs with it. In each of his scenes you can feel the spite and tension growing, gradually leading up to a climax that you'll truly wish had ended a different way. Seyfried and Sarsgaard are not the only stars here. The film has support from Sharon Stone, Chris Noth, Robert Patrick, Juno Temple, James Franco, Adam Brody, Hank Azaria, and Bobby Cannavale.Lovelace is not a reversed version of Boogie Nights. It does not glorify the porn industry. It's a true story that ventures down a different path, showing us the intimate details of Linda's life, damaged relationships, and venture to self discovery. She was a person that ended up in a chronically bad relationship that finally found peace and love. This movie captures that perfectly, but sadly has some consistency issues and timeline problems that are keeping us from giving this a higher score.
- Review by Chris George