“Her Smell” is the epitome of how to masterfully execute an uncomfortable story through a realistic script and high-effort performances. This film tells the story of an all-female punk band led by the troubled Becky Something (Elisabeth Moss, “Us”).
The surname, Something, is a brilliant creative decision because Becky could have easily had the last name of Hendrix, Joplin or Morrison (all members of the infamous 27 club) due to the abundance of entertainers who fall to drugs or alcohol abuse. Moss’ dedication to the role is very evident by the interviews she gave on the promotional tour. The self-destructive path she takes during the movie is brutally honest to the negative ideals of stardom. Becky’s mood swings throughout the narrative are shown effortlessly by Moss. This creates a character who is one of the most unpredictable in recent memory. Eric Stoltz (aka original Marty McFly) was also brilliant as the record label executive in charge of monitoring the deteriorating Becky.
Director/Screenwriter Alex Ross Perry (“Golden Exits”) meticulously frames his scenes with tension and uncertainty. In a way, his style of storytelling for the work feels like the 2015 film “Steve Jobs” because of the minimal amount of locations used. Perry uses about 30 minutes per scene before transitioning to another eventful moment in Becky’s life. Without a knowledgeable director, this technique might be hard to pull off.
The score is haunting as it encourages the viewer to not defend the protagonist’s wrongdoings. Even in parts that seemed somewhat peaceful, there was an inevitable sense of dread looming. The original songs contained a Courtney Love-inspired vibe to them. Moss’ voice went from rugged to angelic, and it all correlated to the story being told. The most notable use of music in the film was the mesmerizing version of Bryan Adam’s song “Heaven.”
“Her Smell” features relevant themes that need to be discussed more frequently. The idea that an entertainer is living in “paradise” is flawed, and the filmmakers do not hide from this notion. Artists are often troubled individuals who are trying to escape from their demons. By doing so, they can cause further harm with substances or neglecting loved ones.
Finding our personal weaknesses and trying to fix them is what Perry tries to convey in his screenplay. Perry’s approach at presenting the story is like VH1’s “Behind the Music.” The hardships of songwriting are not at the forefront; this is just another catalyst toward Becky’s downfall. Becky’s relationship with her daughter, ex-husband and bandmates bring the most out of Moss.
By no means is “Her Smell” perfect, but this instead adds to the grittiness of the subject matter. The biggest issue is it feels a little long in length, running at 135 minutes. Another side of this argument is that Perry wants the audience to endure every second of struggle his characters have to face. “Her Smell” is well worth a watch and would not be shocking if Moss is an early frontrunner to receive her first Oscar nomination.
Image from Gunpowder and Sky via YouTube
