I am a huge Brit Marling fan, both of her writing and her acting. Both of her previous films were remarkable in their own way. Another Earth was a lovely, haunting little film about regrets and the limitations that get imposed on our lives, and The Sound of My Voice was a really interesting (and accurate) depiction of cult frauds and how they operate.  I have looked forward to her third film, The East, since last summer, ever since I noticed on IMDB that it was in post-production. That’s how good Brit Marling is: you mark her films on your calendar a year in advance.

I think Brit is a serious screen-writing talent. She chooses daring, interesting topics, and has the skill and courage to not just cheaply exploit them, but to create from them strikingly moral works of art which resonate deeply. I sincerely hope that she does not sell out to Hollywood, and rather makes the effort to continue developing and deepening her craft. I really think that down the road she and her directing partner Zal Batmanglij could together become another Costa-Gavras.

With her third offering, The East, Marling is expanding into making films with wider commercial appeal. I found the film very enjoyable, even if it did not lodge in my mind quite the way her first two films did. The story is laid out really well, with solid dialog and good pacing, and character development is skillful and efficient. It features some gutsy writing – from the cleverness of the group’s attacks, to the amorality of her corporate bosses, to its morally visionary ending of the sort that is not seen much any more. Also on display is Marling’s profound understanding of the speech and behavior within cult groups, which is so spot-on I figure she must have had some direct exposure to cult groups in her past. In the lead role, Marling gives (as usual) a lovely, nuanced performance, and the supporting performances are for the most part excellent.

So why did it fail to lodge in my mind like Marling’s earlier films? Little things that added up to just enough of a distraction that I probably would not feel the need to watch the film again. Some elements of the eco-terrorism plots were, in my opinion, a little unbelievable, and despite the way these elements blend seamlessly in the context of the larger story (due mainly to Marling’s writing skill,) they still don’t sit quite right, and somehow this dilutes the emotional impact of the story.

Also, Ellen Page is just not my favorite actress, as anyone who reads this blog will have readily deduced, and I felt her important role was hamstrung a bit by her vacuous presence and cue-card delivery of lines. (Imagine instead someone like Jessica Chastain in this role, and I think you’ll see what I’m getting at.) Even a year ago when I first noticed the film, I was worried about the involvement of Ellen Page – well, most of my fears were realized. I fully comprehend that I stand entirely alone in my assessment of Oscar nominee Ellen Page, but take it for what it’s worth. 

But setting aside my nitpicking, let me be clear that The East is a very well-made film that is interesting, surprising, and lots of fun. I very highly recommend it!

And to Brit Marling: if you are reading this, please consider the content of this lecture by Jacob Appelbaum as a topic for your next movie.