What happens when a billionaire misbehaves, gets canceled and goes on an apology tour? He buys an island. That’s what happens in Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut, “Blink Twice,” a social thriller about class, gender and power dynamics. It stars Channing Tatum as tech mogul Slater King, and Naomi Ackie as Frida, an infatuated waitress.
Naomi Ackie as Frida and Alia Shawkat as Jess. PHOTO: COURTESY OF AMAZON MGM STUDIOS
Frida along with her friend Jess (Alia Shawkat) are waitressing at a gala for Slater’s foundation. Frida catches the billionaire’s attention and the pair have a flirtatious evening. That night Slater invites Frida to his idyllic private island with some of his friends, and she quickly accepts. There the days flow into the next, filled with drinking, drugs and debauchery. As time passes, Frida eventually realizes something is amiss and it has nothing to do with the free-flowing champagne.
Kravitz began writing the script in the summer of 2017, months before the Harvey Weinstein allegations came to light. As the daughter of musician Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet, Kravitz is no stranger to powerful people, their quirks and machinations. Her own mother was reportedly fired from “The Cosby Show” for acting in a sex scene in the film “Angel Heart.” Years later, Bill Cosby was accused of rape by multiple women and convicted of sexual assault in 2018. His conviction was overturned in 2021. Kravitz’s script was also influenced by the charges brought against Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell and discussions in the media that followed.
One might expect Kravitz’s first-hand knowledge of these rarified worlds to bring something new or insightful to the women’s empowerment movement through this film, but it doesn’t, not really. What it does do is acknowledge an array of tired talking points:
“Hurt people hurt people.”
“She was asking for it.”
“Just forget about it.”
“No one will believe you anyway.”
These sentiments don’t move the conversation toward a tangible resolution; they create more harm. Kravitz presents these truths in such a sleek and stylish way. Many of the shots could be compiled into a Slim Aarons-inspired coffee table book. She uses saturated, vibrant colors to heighten the glamour of the island and the allure of the beautiful and wealthy people vacationing there.
The set design is reminiscent of a Roman bacchanalia in the tropics, while the bright white costumes on the female guests echo vestal virgins. Venomous snakes slithering about the island harken back to the Garden of Eden. It’s as if this story and these power dynamics are a tale as old as time.
Despite the film’s gorgeous shots, “Blink Twice” occasionally plays like a hipster fever-dream of drug benders and bad behavior on Jeffrey Epstein’s private island. Aesthetically, the film is gorgeous, but the pacing is slow and indulgent at times. The script opens up like a decent vintage after multiple viewings, with audiences able to pick up subtle hints and foreshadows on the second watch. However, it doesn’t quite hit the mark like its predecessor, “Get Out,” directed by Jordan Peele.
Tatum’s performance relies a lot on his “Magic Mike” good looks rather than his acting chops. For Ackie’s part, she effectively plays a layered protagonist that you simultaneously root for and criticize. And, that’s all part of the fun. No matter what, you’re going to have a great time.
“Blink Twice” is now in theaters nationwide.
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