Two of the most highly anticipated movies of the year, “My Policeman” and “Don’t Worry Darling,” hit theaters within the past month, and they are both garnering loads of attention from the press. Why? Harry Styles is cast as the lead in both of the films. In case you have yet to hear about Harry Styles, he is currently one of the biggest names in the music industry, receiving love for not only his music but his activism and self-expression. He’s drawn thousands to these two films and it’s up for debate … are these really good films? Or are they just enjoyed because of Harry Styles?
“My Policeman” is set in 1950s England and follows Tom (Harry Styles), a policeman who is married to Marion (Emma Corrin). He becomes attracted to Patrick (David Dawson), despite homosexuality being illegal at this time. This film is based on a book of the same title. I was interested to see how the film would play out and I went into it with very high expectations. I loved Emma Corrin in “The Crown” and I knew she would have some great acting in this film as well. It was Harry whom I had my concerns about. After watching “Don’t Worry Darling,”, I realized that Harry Styles is not much of an actor. A lot of his lines felt very forced and unnatural. It sometimes seems like he was thrown in to catch the audience’s eye, but forgot that movies go beyond just a trailer appearance. I’ve seen worse acting performances, but Harry’s felt very unnatural. That’s why I was expecting another actor to carry the weight of the film, just like Florence Pugh did in “Don’t Worry Darling.”
As expected, this film was the same. It wasn’t just the acting, however. Every single thing about it felt forced and rushed. None of the actors had chemistry with each other, and it was like you could see where each scene was blocked out. There was no fluidity to it. For example, it would be, “Patrick, Tom and Marion go to the museum.” “Patrick and Tom fight.” “Patrick, Tom, and Marion do something else together.” In that cycle, for almost two hours. At least with “Don’t Worry Darling” the plot kept moving and it was much more lively. Personally, I found it more entertaining as well but that’s more of a personal preference.
Overall, “My Policeman” really wasn’t a good movie. I think a lot of people are saying they love it just because they’re Harry Styles fans. I was disappointed because I think that the movie is a good way to learn about the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals during this time period. The bad acting doesn’t take away from the message, however, so I would still look into the theme of the movie even if you don’t plan on watching it. As for the battle between two Harry Styles movies? Go with “Don’t Worry Darling.”
Leave a Reply