“Newness,” Drake Doremus’ 2017 addition to the Sundance Film Festival is a passionate love story between two twenty-something millennials and the trials and tribulations of an open relationship in this modern era. There are lots of things viewers will enjoy about the film: whether it be the sleek, modern cinematography, the light-hearted, melodic score provided by Keegan DeWitt and Gwilym Gold, or the well-written script courtesy of Ben York Jones.
The story follows Martin and Gabi, two young Angelenos who meet via a dating app called Winx, which is essentially just Doremus’ version of Tinder. After meeting in a bar, the two roam the streets of L.A. until sunrise, putting off the pre-established hook-up until the next day. Throughout the 117-minute runtime, we see Martin and Gabi go through all sorts from heated, intense arguments, to almost pornographic sex scenes.
Around the 86-minute mark is where things start to go downhill for the pair, with Martin’s ex-wife Bethany slowly leaking into the pair’s happy romance, creating a significant rift between them. However, (spoiler alert) all is forgiven after the two finally come to their senses and reconcile their loving, amorous relationship after realizing they will disappoint and resent each other, but will always remind one another why they’re together.
Hoult and Costa are phenomenal in their respective roles. Their chemistry burns through the screen, and their love for each other seems to flourish like a real relationship throughout the pair’s screen-time. While the leads significantly stand out, the supporting cast doesn’t disappoint either. Matthew Gray Gubler fans will be pleased to know that he doesn’t just appear in one scene as the trailer suggests. Martin and Paul meet multiple times throughout the film, with their scenes almost becoming pit-stops in between Martin and Gabi’s scenes. Danny Huston is brilliant too. He grounds the film that much more, and his saying “everything is a transaction” really makes you think life just is a long period full of meaningless transactions.
Lisa Gunning’s editing works with the film’s contemporary vibe perfectly. The overlapping audio and quick cuts are just what the film needs to keep viewers interested and involved. Songs like “Avril 14th” and “Short Line” contrast in a unique yet fitting way. “Short Line” is a powerful, electronic beat, and “Avril 14th” a soft, light-hearted piano piece played over the sickeningly sweet moments between Martin and Gabi.
Doremus also makes excellent use of natural light throughout the film, and it causes the contemporary feel of “Newness” stand out that much more for viewers to see. Something that Nicholas Hoult fans will also notice is the subtle reference to one of Hoult’s earlier films where Martin says “eighty percent of the time I feel like a dildo attached to a warm body,” obviously referring to Hoult’s performance as ‘R’ in the 2013 horror/romance “Warm Bodies.”
Another thing that viewers will love is how gorgeously-shot “Newness” is. Sean Steigemeier’s cinematography is an equal mixture of simple and domestic, emphasizing the grounded, modern aesthetic Doremus was going for.
There are some complex themes throughout “Newness,” including open relationships and honesty, both of which are expertly portrayed by the film’s leads. Something that makes Doremus such a well-liked director among his fans, is the fact that his films never get repetitive. “Equals,” “Endings Beginnings,” and “Newness” all focus on people falling in love, but how they get there in each film is in total contrast to the previous one.
“Newness” is a smooth, modern love story fueled by dating in this technology-filled era that shows viewers dating apps can actually have a positive result, even if that result is only reached within the final minutes of the film. ”Newness” is a soft, domestic romance that gives Netflix viewers a break from the usual intense thrillers and half-hearted comedies. It showcases phenomenal acting, a beautifully written script, and Doremus’ unique directing style.
