Review of Gemini (2017) by K Nife C — 28 Jun 2018

Well I can see why Gemini wasn't very high on the distribution list for production company Neon despite the trailer playing in front of a lot of other limited release movies earlier this year. Just like last year's Beach Rats, it's pretty to look at, but rather hollow. Style is something I'll gladly give a filmmaker the benefit of the doubt over as it is simply a different path up the mountain of storytelling, and Aaron Katz' neon-noir has just as much purple and 808 hi-hats as one would have expected. The film makes Los Angeles look even prettier than it actually is without sacrificing the post-millenial malaise of the town, and some of these shots are almost beautiful enough to make up for the patchy performances or a very disappointing third act.

Zoe Kravitz and Lola Kirke aren't bad actresses, and with better dialogue the film could have started off a bit more interesting. After a lighthearted introductory section, the characters start to gel and there's some genuine chemistry between the two leads. Then there's the dead body, and the second act kicks into high gear classic noir style. Kirke goes into detective mode complete with disguises and gumshoe tip-toeing, and there's a compelling enough murder mystery afoot. It's just too bad that after the twist it all seems a bit mundane and nebulous, as in, a lot of build up for no pay off.

It feels as though the movie was stretched thin because of budgetary restrictions as the moral and emotional repercussions of the third act would have left plenty of room to get to the point which, I think, would have had something to do with "How far will you go for friendship?" As the movie stands, it seems to just point out how empty friendship (or symbiosis) can be in LA and the movie industry. If that is the point, it doesn't take 90 minutes to make that clear. So when you get down to it, the best parts of the film are the long padding scenes of pans and tracking shots as the script doesn't have much heft to it. It's worth a rental (or streaming) for the aesthetic alone.