THE DRAMA
Starring: Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Alana Haim, Mamoudou Athie, and Hailey Benton Gates
Director: Kristoffer Borgli
NICK
Far from your typical rom-com, The Drama is built around an early revelation and the effects it has on the relationship of Emma (Zendaya) and Charlie (Robert Pattinson). The first of their films together this year (before Dune: Part Three), The Drama is a provocative dark comedy that poses questions bound to penetrate the public consciousness. Often an uncomfortable watch (by design), both leads fully commit and bring enough humour to offset the darker subject matter. This is a film that looks deeply at the strength of a relationship, especially when faced with pressure and adversity and it’s remarkably well told by director Kristoffer Borgli.
ADRIANO
Much will be said about the reveal early in The Drama, and I hope that doesn’t overshadow what the film does so well. I admire the stressful and extreme approach to writer/director Kristoffer Borgli’s relationship analysis, and while his characters can feel like human guinea pigs, they’re explored enough that the central romance feels so much like a ticking bomb that my engagement morphed into terror. A large part of this success comes from Zendaya and Robert Pattinson giving layered and expressive performances. The Drama is challenging in all the right ways, and I suspect further discussion will only enhance it.
PAIGE
Going into The Drama, all you really need to know is that it’s an A24 film, so you shouldn’t expect a typical romantic comedy. And it definitely isn’t, which is something I honestly appreciated. Its refreshing take on the genre is both intentionally cringey and uncomfortably funny. The story is enhanced by its chaotic yet rhythmic editing, along with strong performances from Zendaya and Robert Pattinson. The film’s subject matter will definitely spark a lot of conversation as it explores not just whether we truly know our partners, but also our capacity for empathy towards them when faced with the worst thing they may have done in their past.
KATIE
Going into The Drama, I knew there was some kind of significant reveal from the trailer, so I was braced to find out what it was, and yet it still surprised and intrigued me. The film presents a compelling look at a politically charged subject through a romantic relationship fraught with the potential implications of an act committed long in the past, but whose relevance has only increased in contemporary society. The cast is incredible, and Zendaya and Robert Pattinson’s performances are genuinely faultless, masterfully conveying every word left unsaid and awkward moment, underpinning the often excruciating atmosphere.
