Her Smell travels a downward spiral

Advertisement

Advertise with us

These days, Elisabeth Moss is best known for her work as the heroine of The Handmaid’s Tale, in the role of a modern woman obliged to suffer silently at the hands of the radically regressive male power structure that’s taken over America.

Read this article for free:


or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Subscribe and receive a limited-edition Free Press branded hat or tote.

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $205*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/08/2019 (2597 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

These days, Elisabeth Moss is best known for her work as the heroine of The Handmaid’s Tale, in the role of a modern woman obliged to suffer silently at the hands of the radically regressive male power structure that’s taken over America.

So one can see the appeal for Moss of diving into the role of Becky Something in Her Smell. Becky is a ’90s rock star — presumably inspired by Courtney Love — whose only filters are on the cigarettes she smokes too compulsively. In the throes of success as a recording artist, Becky is loud, self-indulgent, creative and narcissistic. She’s also a bit of a monster to the people who support her.

Writer-director Alex Ross Perry (Listen Up Philip) plunks us into Becky’s world in mid-downward spiral. Perry shoots the backstage chaos of Becky’s world in close-quarters-intimacy with handheld cameras. Backed up by a pair of dubious holy men tasked with clearing the Becky perimeter of negative energy, the emboldened Becky recklessly alienates by turns Danny (Dan Stevens), her ex-partner and the father of her toddler; her manager (Eric Stoltz); and her long-suffering bandmates (Agyness Deyn and Gayle Rankin).

It is obvious to anyone who has ever watched a celebrity biopic, Becky is heading for a fall. What’s unusual about this film is that it tosses out the conventional structure of such films. Stretched out over five acts, we bear witness to Becky’s self-destruction over the first three. Not content to take down her own band, Becky also brings down another riot-grrrl trio (headed by Cara Delevigne) that stumbles into her orbit.

Notwithstanding Moss’s willingness to explore her character’s bottomless depths, this is, frankly, tiresome stuff.

While it’s really impressive to watch Moss chew up the backstage scenery, the film succeeds rather too well in making Becky an irredeemable character, even when the notion of redemption becomes a possibility by the fourth act.

Other issues sabotage the film: the music isn’t especially good. And what’s with that title?

Assuming Courtney Love was the template, Her Smell feels like a dead end. If Perry had modelled his film after someone along the lines of Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill — who some would call a smarter, more articulate heroine — maybe he could have had something.

DONALD STAHL / GUNPOWDER & SKY
Elisabeth Moss plays a ’90s-inspired rock star, Becky Something, in Her Smell.
DONALD STAHL / GUNPOWDER & SKY Elisabeth Moss plays a ’90s-inspired rock star, Becky Something, in Her Smell.

randall.king@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @FreepKing

DONALD STAHL / GUNPOWDER & SKY
Elisabeth Moss
DONALD STAHL / GUNPOWDER & SKY Elisabeth Moss
Randall King

Randall King
Writer

Randall King writes about film for the Winnipeg Free Press.

Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.

Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.

Report Error Submit a Tip

More Stories

Premier tells grieving parents site of fatal collision under review

Chris Kitching 4 minute read Preview

Premier tells grieving parents site of fatal collision under review

Chris Kitching 4 minute read 5:48 PM CDT

Premier Wab Kinew promised to pursue safety improvements at an Interlake intersection when he spoke to parents of some of the four teens who died in a crash at the site on the Labour Day weekend.

The collision at Highway 8 and Provincial Road 229, just west of Winnipeg Beach, prompted a review by Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure, which is standard after a fatal crash, while some of the victims’ families and community leaders publicly called for changes.

“When you see the loss of these beautiful young lives, any parent, any Manitoban feels a sense of loss. On behalf of the whole province, I send my condolences to these families,” Kinew said in Winnipeg Wednesday.

“I did so directly earlier today, and I heard some of the parents’ suggestions for how we could make this safer for everybody. I committed to them that we’re going to take those actions — both stuff we can do relatively quickly and some longer-term fixes, as well.”

Read
5:48 PM CDT

Leadership turnover at Hydro not a concern: Kinew

Free Press staff 2 minute read Preview

Leadership turnover at Hydro not a concern: Kinew

Free Press staff 2 minute read 7:05 PM CDT

Premier Wab Kinew addressed the recent departure of Manitoba Hydro CEO Allan Danroth for the first time Wednesday, saying he’s not worried about turnover at the top of the province’s Crown jewel.

“I wish Mr. Danroth well,” Kinew said when asked about the resignation of the CEO hired just two years ago.

“I guess this is my first time addressing his departure, so I do want to thank him for his time with the Crown utility,” the premier said at an unrelated event. Danroth, who quit for personal reasons, replaced Jay Grewal, who was fired after the NDP formed government.

Kinew was asked if he has concerns about having a steady hand at the wheel of the province’s power company.

Read
7:05 PM CDT

All that glitters … could work here

Editorial 4 minute read Preview

All that glitters … could work here

Editorial 4 minute read Yesterday at 2:00 AM CDT

Sometimes, it’s hard to even suggest a change, because it seems there is always a plethora of people ready to tell you that your idea just won’t work.

Read
Yesterday at 2:00 AM CDT

Councillors say Main Street Project scuttles other agency’s efforts to house homeless

Scott Billeck 5 minute read Preview

Councillors say Main Street Project scuttles other agency’s efforts to house homeless

Scott Billeck 5 minute read Yesterday at 6:57 PM CDT

A Winnipeg outreach agency that’s been largely shut out of government funding says it has found housing for more people in the last five months than Manitoba’s homeless strategy that began last year.

Read
Yesterday at 6:57 PM CDT

DNA on beer can helps solve killing

Dean Pritchard 4 minute read Preview

DNA on beer can helps solve killing

Dean Pritchard 4 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

Two years after 74-year-old James Monaghan was stabbed in his Sherburn Street home, DNA found on a beer can led police to his killer.

Shara Harper, 29, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and on Tuesday was sentenced to six years in prison.

A neighbour found Monaghan dead in his home on July 29, 2022. He had been stabbed twice in the chest and back.

The investigation into Monaghan’s killing had stalled until June 2024, when DNA found on an empty beer can in Monaghan’s home was confirmed to be a match for Harper.

Read
2:00 AM CDT

Council to consider moving ahead with final phase of sewage plant upgrade before securing expected federal cash

Joyanne Pursaga 5 minute read Preview

Council to consider moving ahead with final phase of sewage plant upgrade before securing expected federal cash

Joyanne Pursaga 5 minute read 6:00 PM CDT

City council will consider approving $115 million toward the final phase of the North End sewage treatment plant upgrade, while civic staff warn sewer rates would soar $200 higher per year if more federal funding isn’t provided.

However, several politicians say a response from Ottawa to the city’s request for more money is expected soon.

A water and waste report asks council to waive a condition that the city finalize funding agreements with the provincial and federal governments for the mega-project before awarding the money for a contractor to complete the $115-million development phase agreement for the final project.

The third and final nutrient removal facilities phase is expected to cost $1.57 billion, bringing the total cost of the entire upgrade to $3.1 billion.

Read
6:00 PM CDT