The new Claire Denis film Stars at Noon is an adaptation of the 1986 Novel by Denis Johnson and follows a journalist Trish (played by Margaret Qualley) stuck in Nicaragua’s rough political climate, along with an Englishman named Daniel (played by Joe Alwyn). The film is written by Claire Denis, Léa Mysius and Andrew Litvack and distributed by A24 in the USA.
The rest of the cast includes Benny Safdie as CIA Man, Danny Ramirez as Costa Rican Cop, Nick Romano as Subteniente, Stephan Proaño as Vice-Minister, Monica Bartholomew as La Señora, Carlos Bennett as Mercado Taxi Driver, Hector Moreno as Travel Agent, Robin Duran as Costa Rican Border Captain, Jose Leonel Hernandez as Nightwatchman and John C. Reilly as American Magazine Editor. Moreover, the film has a running time of two hours and fifteen minutes.
-Stars at Noon Review Contain No Spoilers-
The film starts at its own pace and introduces us to a Journalist named Trish (played by Margaret Qualley) who seems to be out of favour from the local authority and the cops, and is much desperate to escape the unrest. When her journalistic identity itself hangs in a shadow of doubt, she reluctantly starts to sleep with individuals for money and safety.
One day, she befriends an English Businessman named Daniel (played by Joe Alwyn) in an attempt to turn the escaping odds in her favour. Soon enough, she learns that the Englishman might not be the best option for her escape after all. However, it becomes already late for the young and passionate duo to retrace any steps, as romance occupies the better part of them.
The film is designed in such a manner that it might not be everyone’s cup of tea. The director has chosen not to deter her vision, even for a minute. And is successful in producing a pure and pious version of the story. The pace is meticulously explored throughout the screenplay and has an impact to leave an after-effect.
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The usual criticism of the film lies in the unhurried revelations of the events, which to be fair, carries a cult audience of its own. Slow-burning thrillers are meant to be hyper-detailed and steady, and Stars at Noon does that job perfectly.
My only issue was with the chemistry of the characters. It never really reaches the point of conviction and lacks the core element of the story. Although the film doesn’t shy away from using intimacy as a tool, it ultimately remains short in developing the central narrative.
Other than that, the film is everything that it aspires to be. The individual performances of the leading pair are brilliant and raw, while the cameos don’t have much of the show. Perhaps, Bennie Safdie has a thing for breakfast/dinner conversations in a movie and is mastering that art with great precision.
Stars at Noon Final Thoughts
The film is a sole artistic effort that will resonate with you if there is an innate desire for it. It has the power to leave a meditative effort on you, with a variation of thrill and drama. Plus, there is no reason why you should miss a Claire Denis film.
You can watch the film on Hulu. Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
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