Danielle Solzman
Based on the Nick Hornby book, Juliet, Naked is a film that comes off as Apatowian in nature with a overgrown man-child playing a large role at the center of the story. […]
Annie (Rose Byrne) has spent the last 15 years wasting her life with her husband, Duncan (Chris O’Dowd), who has been obsessed with rock star Tucker Crowe (Ethan Hawke). Duncan, a university lecturer, runs a fan site and has been obsessed with the mission since his breakthough album, Juliet, in 1993. Unfortunately for him, Crowe has disappeared from public life but he continues with his obsession nevertheless.
Annie never moved away from her hometown. She took over from her father as the administrator of the Seaside Cliff Museum and she’s always worried about her younger lesbian sister Ros (Lily Brazier). Despite being based on a novel, Ros could easily be plucked into any film produced by Judd Apatow and not appear out of place.
Crowe enters Annie’s life when someone mails the original demo album of “Juliet” to their house. Ever the man-child, Duncan is furious to learn that she heard “Juliet, Naked” before he could. It’s not until after he writes his review that she comments on the fansite and receives an email from someone claiming to be Tucker Crowe. Wanting to get confirmation, Annie starts emailing back and forth as she develops an online relationship with Tucker. Their relationship is better than the one she has living with man-child Duncan as Annie is able to open up on so many details about life.
For my full review from the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, please click here.
DIRECTOR: Jesse Peretz
SCREENWRITERS: Evgenia Peretz and Jim Taylor & Tamara Jenkins
CAST: Rose Byrne, Ethan Hawke and Chris O’Dowd
