A Review of A Big Bold Beautiful Journey: Kogonada Creates a Charming Adventure with Distinctive Empathy

      A consistent thread in Kogonada's films thus far is his unique interest in minimalist, profoundly human character studies set within intricately crafted worlds. A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, as a grand romantic fantasy, has a less grounded approach compared to the subtle modernist settings of Columbus or the practical futurism of After Yang, though its structure shares some similarities. Intentionally, the film detaches itself from reality; it serves as a polished imitation of a recognizable world, embracing a Pinterest board aesthetic to highlight the characters’ sobering journeys of self-discovery.

      Inspired by a Black List script by Seth Reiss, who also wrote The Menu, Journey features Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie as David and Sarah, two seemingly happy singles who cross paths at a wedding. This occurs after each is compelled to rent transportation from a mysterious Car Rental Agency, equipped with all-knowing GPS for their journeys. Despite its high concept, the film's premise is refreshingly straightforward: the two miss their connection at the wedding and are redirected to a rest stop the following day. They are unwittingly brought together when they accept the journey the GPS suggests, which leads them through mysterious doors into their pasts, where they explore formative moments and confront challenging truths. This is conveyed with a straightforward attitude, thankfully devoid of excessive exposition and cumbersome world-building. The reasons behind events remain murky but unimportant, and the film mirrors the protagonists' openness to their extraordinary situation: embrace it, be receptive, and perhaps it will evoke something beautiful if you allow it.

      This is where Kogonada's skill for structure becomes evident. He constructs the film as a kind of trust exercise. David and Sarah are introduced as typical romantic archetypes drawn from a mid-2000s indie guide. Farrell portrays a version of a delicate, solitary boy; Robbie isn’t exactly a manic pixie dream girl, but she might be a relative. Their first meeting at an average Instagram wedding feels awkward, especially given the couple’s inherent charm. It’s a scene that may invite confusion and even eye-rolls, particularly from a more jaded audience. However, as the story progresses and Kogonada reveals more, David and Sarah’s initially rigid, contrived interactions evolve into more profound realizations, allowing the film to ease into a smoother state. As they learn about each other while sifting through their memories, they shed certain facades and drop the rehearsed versions of their personalities that they've been comfortably showcasing for too long. These two attractive individuals inhabit a “Clarendon” filtered world yet still have considerable personal growth ahead of them.

      There’s a hint of darker, overly serious melodrama, but this is quickly sidestepped due to the film's underlying practicality. It is only when David completely surrenders to his emotions that complications arise for him. This is beautifully illustrated in a high school musical scene, with Farrell fully committed to the performance. As more doors and memories are unlocked, the film itself opens up, creating a kind of magic trick: a manufactured romance about easing cynicism, intentionally artificial in its design, subtly warms the viewer through its balance of fantasy and sincerity. However, the balancing act is not always flawless. Kogonada’s sincerity is refreshing but can occasionally be undermined. Some of the unironically chosen music (again echoing a mid-2000s approach) contrasts with the enchanting score by the legendary Joe Hisaishi, perhaps revealing studio notes uncertain about the film's direction. This creative approach avoids any truly haunting ghosts for David and Sarah, which could be interpreted as somewhat dismissive. Yet, seeking a pleasant experience rather than deep introspection, this trade-off seems intentional for a lighter narrative. A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is charming without being overly sweet; appealing without being overly quirky. It successfully uses its crafted, ambiguous reality to explore the intricacies of its characters, as they are. Kogonada joyfully capitalizes on the simple pleasure of beautiful people falling in love on screen. He employs his signature empathy as encouragement: embrace the journey, remain open, and perhaps it will evoke something lovely if you allow it.

      A Big Bold Beautiful Journey premieres in theaters on Friday, September 19.