Elegant, Thrilling and Suave: A Simple Favour Is My Film of 2018

As someone who works pretty much full time and has a mountain load of uni work to do I don't get as many chances to go to the cinema as I would like, even if I am studying film. However this year was a record for me as I saw four films in the cinema which was a nice change. The Incredibles 2 was fun and nostalgic but lacked enough Edna Mode screen time, let's be honest she's everyone's favourite. Mamma Mia 2 was a guilt trip by my cousin who really wanted to see it but no-one would go with him. It's utter rubbish but worth it for that one line, we all know the line. Ocean's 8 had the makings of something really special but crappy writing, weird pacing and lazy directing meant all the weight fell to the actresses to pull off a miracle. Good, but not amazing.

This brings me to A Simple Favor. I'll set the scene. It's the day before my birthday and my friend Julie has had a rubbish morning. She asks me if for my birthday I would like to go watch Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick on a big screen. How can I say no to that? I had seen the trailer and was interested in the film but wasn't entirely sure what the film was about. But hey, if it was terrible at least we spent two hours watching two gorgeous ladies.

Best film I have seen all year. Dark, twisted but with a sense of humour A Simple Favor knows exactly what it's doing and it does it so well. It manipulates you, makes you feel so many things at once for so many characters and then twists you in a completely different direction. It's the first film in a long time that has been completely unpredictable to me and I loved that. I don't want to give too much away and to be honest I'm not sure I can explain the plot of this film. Very Gone Girl-esque though.

It's almost strange to watch Anna Kendrick as a mum because I so venomously associate her with funny, harsher characters and her interview personality. So seeing her in this role was weird but she made it her own and actually reminded me of what a great dramatic actress she could be without loosing that cookie, funny Anna Kendrick that we've grown to love. Her character Stephanie grows in this film from a rather bubbly hands-on mum into a manipulative femme fatale and the woman who gets her there is Emily.

Blake Lively as Emily was simply inspired. Masculine without loosing her femininity, suave and charming but manipulating at the same time Emily is not a woman to be messed with. She remains an enigma for most of the film, even to Stephanie who is her best friend, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively together on screen have amazing chemistry that makes their characters more interesting and the plot more intriguing.

Another thing that has to be mentioned without a doubt is the fashion in this film. I will hold my hand up and admit that I would kill for Blake Lively in a suit. Any suit. All the suits. Blake Lively looks fantastic and so glamorous and I want one.

A Simple Favor is Neo-Noir Thriller that will take you on a journey and you have no idea where you're going to end up. You absolutely must watch it.