Method

With as much quirkiness and meta-humour as an episode of Community, Method is an eccentric comedy-drama mixing a coming-of-age female friendship with a dream-chasing odyssey of a memorable and unique protagonist, that delivers an enjoyable story despite some shortcomings.

Psychology student Amy (Rebecca Lachmansingh) decides to forgo her degree in favour of pursuing an acting dream. A fantasist who often finds herself conversing with her own conscience, Amy inserts herself into the circle of Lydia (Jacquelyn Yushkov), an aspiring writer far less convinced of her own chances of stardom and success. Lydia reluctantly agrees to help Amy in her pursuit of acting glory, and finds her own aspirations becoming intertwined with those of her peculiar friend.

Produced on a low-budget and with lockdown restrictions in-place (which are cleverly woven into the subtext of the plot), Method is far from a perfect film. There are editing imperfections and occasional continuity issues. The acting at times feels wooden and detached. And the story loses its way narratively at points, bringing into question whether the film’s plot and themes could sustain its feature length (though this is brought firmly back on course as the film reaches its climax).

Where these issues do detract from the film’s overall quality, its successes far outweigh its failings. Amy is a fascinating and impactful protagonist, portrayed by the fantastic Rebecca Lachmansingh. Viewers will experience a range of emotions and opinions of her throughout the film – not all positive. But it is a testament to both the storytelling of writers Darya Amirshahi (also the film’s director) and Matthew Choi, as well as Lachmansingh’s acting, that even in her questionable and delusion moments, she remains a charming and empathetic influence on screen. The multifaceted character building sprinkled innocuously through the film (it’s surely no coincidence she is a psychology student…) results in a lot of depth for the director to explore.

The method of this exploration, as well as the film’s heart, is the relationship between Amy and Jacquelyn Yushkov’s Lydia. Yushkov’s acting does not have the same consistency as Lachmansingh’s, however she does display some touching moments as Lydia’s frostiness towards Amy begins to thaw. As the pair grow closer, the humorous lines begin to land far more frequently and the complimentary talents of the characters lead to some heart-warming moments. It is refreshing to see female friendships portrayed in such a way, and the film echoes the likes of Booksmart with its unapologetic celebration of young women who are focused on their dreams.

Hence, despite its lower-budget, Method manages to engage with its audiences and explore a number of themes within its story – including the likes of mental health and parental independence (that could actually have been touched upon in greater detail). Despite some rough edges on show within its narrative and production, this film’s strong characters and inventive storytelling show that the story of Amy and Lydia’s pursuit of their talents comes from a team with talents of their own.