Always Shine (2016)

Directed by: Sophia Takal | 83 minutes | drama, thriller | Actors: Mackenzie Davis, Caitlin FitzGerald, Lawrence Michael Levine, Khan Baykal, Alexander Koch, Michael Lowry, Colleen Camp, Jane Adams, Julian Tolentino, Mason Foster, Stella Foster, Mariska Takal, Mindy Robinson

Sophia Takal’s ‘Always Shine’ is known as a psychological thriller. But it is mainly a disjointed whole, a film where after seeing it the viewer thinks: “What? Did I spend 83 minutes of my life on this?”

The story centers on Anna (Mackenzie Davis), an actress who struggles to get her career off the ground, and her friend Beth (Caitlin FitzGerald), who thrives as an actress, even if it’s often only in horror movies with lots of nudity. To boost their friendship again, the two opposites decide to spend a weekend in a cottage in the woods.

But under the skin, the tension between the two women turns out to be too much of an annoying obstacle. Beth is disappointed with the roles she is offered and secretly thinks her friend is a better actress. Anna is jealous of the status Beth has now acquired, but can’t stand her ‘Hollywoodian’ whining and whining. “I have almost no money, at least you have enough work.”

This eventually culminates in a fierce discussion on the terrace of the cottage and leads to a confrontation that will change both their lives forever. In the first fifty minutes of the film we see how the two ladies increasingly get under each other’s skin, such as jealousy when one steals another’s ‘date’ in a bar. After that it becomes a mess. Takal plays with images, constantly calling up Beth in the background, but it doesn’t get really exciting. The climax of the film also leaves a lot to be desired. Takal has – it seems – cut and pasted away from it.

There is not much to notice about the acting of both ladies, although Caitlin FitzGerald clearly has to lose out to Mackenzie Davis in this. The twist Takal performs is an ‘out of the blue’ trick that makes the film completely collapse. If only I were you. No, if only I were more you. About losing your own identity. Yes, but too predictable and cliché to really classify ‘Always Shine’ as a thriller. In short: a missed opportunity. There is very little class that shines through in this film. It is hoped that Takal will treat us to more fireworks in the future.