Am I Ok? stars Dakota Johnson in one of two films of hers releasing in June of 2024. After starting the year with the much-maligned Madame Web, this film offers up a showcase of some real talent for Johnson and her co-star Sonoya Mizuno. Interestingly, the film initially premiered at Sundance in 2022, but didn’t get a wide release until Max picked it up and dropped it on their service this month.
The film follows Johnson in the role of Lucy, a 20-something woman who’s amidst a battle of depression and confusion surrounding her place in society. Lucy struggles with the idea that she’s gay, something she never outwardly faced until now. Her deep inner struggles have left her unmotivated, as she gave up her painting career, and seemingly depressed, having fallen into a rut. Jane, her best friend and confidante, tries to get her to break out of her shell, but Lucy continues to spiral until she can accept who she really is.
Am I Ok? is a really deep showcase of self-identity that I think will feel important for a lot of people. It was directed by Tig Notaro and her wife Stephanie Allyne. In this way, it feels personal, which lends to the success of the film.
Add in the incredibly subdued but powerful performance from Dakota Johnson and I was left more impressed than I thought I would be. She and Mizuno have tremendous chemistry on screen. From the first scene onwards, it was obvious they had been friends for a long time. And the film doesn’t hold back when it comes to the effects depression and these sorts of issues can have on friendships.
The film is a modest 86 minutes in runtime and that’s honestly a good number for the substance of the movie. I was surprised at how much Notaro and Allyne were able to fit in the small time they had. It felt, truly, like I was on a journey of self-discovery along with Lucy.
Final Thoughts
Am I Ok? will certainly have value for anyone who can relate to its story. Johnson and Mizuno deliver powerful performances and I was surprised at how connected I felt to the characters. There’s a lot to like here, and hopefully it doesn’t get buried in the sea of titles Max has to offer.
3.5/5
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I have been watching movies my whole life and fell in love at an early age. I was entranced by the ability for a film to whisk me away to a different universe, and that really started with the Star Wars Franchise. I’m by no means an expert and can roll with opinions that might be controversial, but my love for cinema will always remain. When I’m not watching movies, I work in Marketing Analytics with my degree from Western New England University.
See my Letterboxd: ‎asouza16’s profile • Letterboxd
MY FAVORITE MOVIES:
- Good Will Hunting
- Star Wars: A New Hope (or the whole saga)
- Chef
- Tick, Tick, Boom
- The Perks of being a Wallflower