I've seen many comments written by men about "Promising Young Woman" complaining that the film doesn't go far enough, that the protagonist doesn't punish her victims enough, and that basically they would have been more satisfied by the film if the confrontations in it had ended in blood baths. These comments seem to be written without acknowledging in the slightest the irony of complaining that a film criticizing the aggressiveness of men isn't violent enough.

Writer/director Emerald Fennell and her leading lady, Carey Mulligan, have created something completely unique with this movie. A comedy about male predation. A movie where the catalyst for the entire plot is a gang rape but where the word "rape" isn't mentioned once. A sociopathic character whose inflicted wounds are entirely emotional, never physical. And all set to a soundtrack that makes perfect use of songs from across a dizzying array of genres.

This movie is clearly a howl of rage inspired by the MeToo movement, but it's not preachy, it doesn't feel like homework, and it avoids the finger wagging lecturing that so often comes with other movies that have an activist spirit. The emotional power of "Promising Young Woman" sneaks up on you because you're so distracted by having a good time while watching it.

Mulligan is sensational in this, her Oscar nomination richly deserved. Her character is on a mission to hold mirrors up to the faces of people who've done bad things and make them reflect on the kind of people they are. It's like a gender based version of the recent attempts to make people aware of white privilege. In this movie, it's male privilege that's revealed in all its ugliness, and the attitudes imbedded in our culture that cause people to justify literally anything a man does, no matter the consequences of his behavior.

Fennell won the Original Screenplay Oscar for this film, and it was also nominated for Best Picture, Director, and Film Editing. Fennell joined Chloe Zhao and Sofia Coppola as the only women in Oscar history to be nominated for producing, directing, and writing the same film.

Grade: A.

Wow - an acting masterclass from Carey Mulligan. And if this film can make one person think twice about taking advantage of someone who can't defend themself it has done it's job. But it's a lot more than a film that sends a powerful message. It is sinister entertainment at its best. Wonderful.

I watched the trailer for this one a few times before it was able to be streamed on my streaming service. It honestly did not have the ending I was hoping for- but I think it may have ended even better. The plot, the characters, the cute relationship between Cassandra and Ryan, the backstory, the plot twists (especially THE twist that made me "oh my God. NO." - I loved it ALL. I can't say I'm a huge fan of the main actress, typically, but she did a phenomenal job and deserves so much praise. This is a difficult topic and, at times, this was difficult to watch. But it's important that we talk about it. This one was good.