Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Latest
    • 3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)
    • 3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)
    • 3625. Ode To Joy (2019)
    • 3624. One Chance (2013)
    • 3623. Falling For Figaro (2020)
    • 3622. The Polka King (2017)
    • 3621. Spies In Disguise (2019)
    • 3620. Friendzone (2021)
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Home
    • Blog
      • All Posts
      • Best Of The Year
        • Best Of 2015
        • Best Of 2016
        • Best Of 2017
        • Best Of 2018
        • Best Of 2019
        • Best Of 2020
        • Best Of 2021
        • Best Of 2022
      • The Decade In Review
      • Box Office Analysis
      • James Bond
      • Oscars
      • RANKED
      • Star Wars
      • The Big Questions
      • Top 10
      • World Cinema
    • Ratings
      • Top 250
      • Top 100 Foreign Films
      • Bottom 50
      • 0 – 1.9
      • 2 – 3.9
      • 4 – 5.9
      • 6 – 7.9
      • 8 – 10
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Anthology
      • Animation
      • Christmas
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Documentary
      • Drama
      • Fantasy
      • Film-Noir
      • History
      • Horror
      • Kids’
      • Musical
      • Psychological
      • Romance
      • Sci-Fi
      • Short
      • Silent
      • Sport
      • Superhero
      • Survival
      • Thriller
      • Western
    • Release Year
      • 2020s
      • 2010s
      • 2000s
      • 1990s
      • 1980s
      • 1970s
      • 1960s
      • 1950s
      • 1940s
      • 1930s
      • 1920s
    • Country
      • Afghanistan
      • Argentina
      • Australia
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Brazil
      • Cambodia
      • Canada
      • Chile
      • China
      • Colombia
      • Costa Rica
      • Czechoslovakia
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • East Timor
      • Faroe Islands
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Georgia
      • Greece
      • Hong Kong
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Iran
      • Iraq
      • Ireland
      • Israel
      • Italy
      • Japan
      • Latvia
      • Lebanon
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Mexico
      • New Zealand
      • Nigeria
      • North Korea
      • Norway
      • Paraguay
      • Peru
      • Philippines
      • Poland
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Singapore
      • South Korea
      • South Africa
      • Soviet Union
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • Syria
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
      • Turkey
      • Uganda
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
      • Uruguay
      • Vietnam
      • Zambia
    • About
    The Mad Movie Man
    You are at:Home»Review»2269. Birthmarked (2018)

    2269. Birthmarked (2018)

    0
    By The Mad Movie Man on September 4, 2018 2018, 6 - 7.9, 90-99 mins, Comedy, Drama, Movies Of 2018, Review, Sep 18, United States
    6.0 Frustrating
    • Acting 6.2
    • Directing 6.0
    • Story 5.7
    • User Ratings (0 Votes) 0

    Starring: Toni Collette, Matthew Goode, Michael Smiley

    Director: Emanuel Hoss-Demarais

    Running Time: 90 mins


    Birthmarked is an American film about two scientists who decide to raise their children as artists, completely contrary to their supposed genetic destiny, in an attempt to show the power of nurture over nature.

    With a good premise that centres on one of the oldest questions of all, Birthmarked is a film that has a simple enough story to prove engrossing and enjoyable all the same. And yet, it fails to pull off what could have been a really good watch, with a frustratingly shallow usage of the theme of nature vs. nurture, a real lack of good humour, and a story that, at least for the most part, really doesn’t go anywhere.

    But before I get into that, I want to talk about the film’s central theme, that of the battle between one’s nature (i.e. your genetic background) and one’s nurture (i.e. how you’re brought up), and which has a greater impact on one’s development from childhood to adulthood, ultimately determining your entire life.

    So, the film focuses on a couple of scientists who decide to do everything to bring their children up as artists. While they should naturally be driven towards science, the parents push their children through all sorts of trials and challenges that are intended to stimulate their artistic side, thus proving that nurture is more influential than nature, and that anybody can grow to be whatever they want.

    It’s an interesting premise that works well at first, but the film’s most interesting elements come in the form of the ethical concerns that are thrown up when the scientists decide to push their children towards one particular fate in the name of experimentation. With the intention of proving that nurture is superior and thus that everyone is free to become whatever they want, they contradict that very idea by pushing their children to do one thing, without giving them the freedom to do otherwise, especially when they show signs of wanting to do so.

    That’s the basis of the film’s story, and it’s all very interesting, but the way that it pans out on screen isn’t quite so enthralling. Above all, there’s a real lack of emotion to go with the fascinating ethical and scientific themes at the core of the story, so while the characters appear to be wrestling with the difficulties of something that is rather ethically murky, the screenplay doesn’t lend enough depth to their development over the course of the film for you to really understand that from a personal perspective.

    The problem is that the movie sees each character only as a two-dimensional entity to represent one side of the debate. Above all, the two scientists are scientists who are pushed to experiment in the name of science, and that’s about it. There’s nowhere near enough focus on their role as parents, and the relationship with their children away from the context of the experiment at hand, meaning it’s really difficult to thoroughly identify with them on an emotional level as well.

    What’s more is that the film just isn’t as funny as it aims to be. From the start, as well as its dramatic side that focuses on those aforementioned themes, the movie really pushes a quirky comedic vibe that attempts to emulate the likes of The Royal Tenenbaums, looking at the uniquely absurd side of a dysfunctional family despite the ability and genius of each of the individuals.

    But that mirroring is painfully forced, and the remainder of the comedy just isn’t funny. With the exception of an absurd and impressively well-written twist in the final act, I can’t remember laughing once at Birthmarked, and if it weren’t for the strong premise, there really wouldn’t have been anything to be really impressed by throughout, which is why I’m giving this movie a 6.0 overall.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    The Mad Movie Man, AKA Anthony Cullen, writes articles and reviews about movies and the world of cinema. Since January 1st, 2013, he has watched and reviewed a movie every day. This is the blog dedicated to the project: www.madmovieman.com

    Related Posts

    7.1

    3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)

    5.8

    3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)

    7.9

    3625. Ode To Joy (2019)

    Follow Me Online!
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Tumblr
    New Releases
    5.3
    January 17, 2022

    3620. Friendzone (2021)

    7.1
    January 10, 2022

    3612. The Lost Daughter (2021)

    8.0
    January 7, 2022

    3609. Licorice Pizza (2021)

    7.2
    January 7, 2022

    3608. Lamb (2021)

    7.4
    December 30, 2021

    3599. The King’s Man (2021)

    6.3
    December 29, 2021

    3598. The Matrix Resurrections (2021)

    8.4
    December 28, 2021

    3597. West Side Story (2021)

    6.3
    December 27, 2021

    3596. Gunpowder Milkshake (2021)

    Recommended Movies
    8.3
    Review
    August 10, 20140

    652. A Fish Called Wanda (1988)

    9.1
    Review
    August 21, 20200

    3063. They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (1969)

    8.1
    Review
    October 26, 20180

    2326. The Hate U Give (2018)

    8.4
    Review
    September 8, 20170

    1883. Train To Busan (부산행) (2016)

    8.6
    Review
    March 28, 20160

    1299. Modern Times (1936)

    Popular Posts
    7.1
    January 24, 2022

    3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)

    5.8
    January 23, 2022

    3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)

    7.9
    January 22, 2022

    3625. Ode To Joy (2019)

    7.4
    January 21, 2022

    3624. One Chance (2013)

    6.3
    January 20, 2022

    3623. Falling For Figaro (2020)

    7.5
    January 19, 2022

    3622. The Polka King (2017)

    6.0
    January 18, 2022

    3621. Spies In Disguise (2019)

    © 2022 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.