Claire Denis' Stars at Noon, which was adapted from Denis Johnson's book, is a test of endurance. The movie underwent numerous revisions before its Cannes release earlier this year, where it shared the Grand Prix with Close. Before Taron Egerton joined the cast and then left it, Robert Pattinson was originally paired with Margaret Qualley as Daniel. Eventually, Joe Alwyn would take up the lead role, and Stars at Noon would change from a drama taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic to one set against the backdrop of the 1980s Nicaraguan struggle.

When Trish (Qualley) first meets Daniel, she is stranded in a Nicaraguan city in the midst of the pandemic (Alwyn). Trish, who is desperate to travel to Costa Rica, is tackling the issue from all sides, including a dubious government official and now Daniel, a mysterious british man she meets in a hotel bar one evening. However, what starts out as a one-night stand ("I'm not here for the money, I'm here for the air conditioning") develops into a committed relationship. Soon the two are declaring their love for one another and fleeing from the CIA and Nicaraguan authorities toward the Costa Rican border.

A lean erotic thriller called Hiding in Stars at Noon may get by with Alwyn and Qualley's lack of chemistry thanks to Denis' direction and the cast members' stand-alone performances. Sadly, the movie's pacing problems prevent it from coasting on the chemistry between Qualley and Alwyn, and it loses steam long before danger actually threatens just over the hour mark. One wonders if Denis' decision to maintain Stars at Noon's setting during the Nicaraguan Revolution in the 1980s would have given the adaptation greater vigour. As it is, Stars at Noon has just enough vitality to be enjoyable thanks to Qualley's performance and the mystery surrounding Alwyn's Daniel.
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G GOWTHAM

24/10/2022 01:30 AM