Based on the 2016 novel by Colleen Hoover, “It Ends with Us” is an interesting look at the aftermath of a traumatic experience witnessed by someone and how it can affect her life and the people around her. Last year, I had the honor of reading the screenplay at the Circle of Confusion film studio, and I thought they did an excellent job transferring the words I read onto the screen. In addition to playing Ryle, director Justin Baldoni does a great job at showing us an fascinating look at domestic abuse from the perspective of someone who witnessed abuse brought onto people and the anxiety of trying to avoid it yourself. Blake Lively gives an excellent performance as the main character, Lily Bloom. Justin Baldoni and Brandon Sklenar deliver great performances as Lively’s two love interests, and it was interesting to see how both men left a massive impact on Lively’s character during two critical moments of her life. The one criticism I have with this movie is that I wish I had gotten more out of the abuse elements because there wasn’t enough time to understand the characters and why they behave the way we see them onscreen. “It Ends with Us” is a faithful adaptation of the beloved novel, thanks to realistic themes, great direction by Justin Baldoni, and excellent performances from Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, and Brandon Sklenar.
Comments