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6/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Michael and Mary remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like movies that feel like a dusty book pulled off a shelf you haven't touched in years, you'll probably enjoy Michael and Mary. It’s a gentle, slow-burn affair. If you need a fast-paced thriller or anything that moves quicker than a leisurely walk in the park, stay far away. You will be bored to tears within fifteen minutes. ☕
The story is basically about two people who find themselves in a bit of a jam—a legal one, actually—and they just kind of… keep going with it. It’s not a thriller, really. It’s more of a long, sustained sigh of a movie.
There’s a specific scene where they are just sitting there, trying to decide what to do next, and it feels like the camera is just as tired as they are. It works, though. It feels real. It doesn't have that polished, glossy finish you see in modern stuff. It’s a bit rough around the edges, much like The Magnificent Meddler, though with far fewer theatrics.
Herbert Marshall is doing a lot of the heavy lifting here. He has this way of looking at his co-stars like he’s trying to memorize their faces before he forgets them. It’s a small, quiet performance. Sometimes he just stands there, looking slightly worried, and that’s enough to tell you everything you need to know.
I found myself thinking about The Black Book halfway through, just because the contrast in pacing is so jarring. While that film is all about tension, this one is about the slow erosion of guilt. It’s not perfect. Sometimes the movie drags its feet, almost like it’s afraid to reach the next plot point. But then, it’s not trying to win a race, is it?
It’s the kind of film where you notice the dust motes dancing in the light more than you notice the actual plot structure. Maybe that’s the point. Or maybe I just needed more coffee when I was watching it. Either way, it stuck with me. 🎞️
