Heartbeats

Heartbeats is the second film by the Canadian film prodigy, Xavier Dolan. Dolan has directed, art directed, written, starred in, and edited Heartbeats. The word prodigy fits Dolan appropriately, and although Heartbeats is far from perfect, it is its imperfection that makes it all the more interesting as an early entry into what will be a great career. The film tells of two best friends, Frankie (Dolan) and Marie (Monia Chokri). Both are overly critical, brutally witty, and nice to look at. Another twenty-something-year-old enters both of their lives. He's a rich, attractive man named Nicholas. At first each tells the other that he's not their type. This is not true, both characters become infatuated by Nicholas. Dolan makes this clear in stylized sequences he's placed to either pop or classical music where each character has sex with someone who isn't Nicholas, and they regret it. Nicholas is flirtatious and unclear where he stands sexually, so Marie and Frankie and taken along for the ride, and perhaps led on. Nicholas pits the friends against each other, and rather than this coming out in numerous violent outburst, Dolan allows for the tension to slowly rise. Heartbeats is one of the best and most exciting films I've seen in a while. Dolan is extremely talented, and places himself around other great talents like Chokri, whose face is gorgeously expressive and melancholy.
Heartbeats: ★★★1/2