If you loved Boyhood, then you should definitely watch What Maisie Knew, which is phenomenal. First, What Maisie Knew is beautiful and predominantly unfolds in New York City, the most beautiful city in the world to film. There is a scene when Maisie is waiting in the lobby early in the morning, and two teenage girls walk in after a late night of partying and are not sneaking in. Their parents clearly do not care where they are, and you think, “This is Maisie’s future.” That scene and others are so authentically New York City that when I found out that the film is an adaptation of a nineteenth century novel set predominantly in France, I was shocked.
Second, the story is riveting. It is about Maisie, the young daughter of a rock star and international businessman who care little for her except as a possession to take away from the other, but once they have her, neither parent knows what to do with her, and Maisie must largely depend on others to survive-namely her parents’ new spouses. What Maisie Knew is strictly from Maisie’s POV. In that round, Julianne Moore’s character clearly wins because she gets Alexander Skarsgård of True Blood fame, and I believe that I actually squealed with delight when he announces his role in Maisie’s life. It is basically a psychological horror story. During a sleepover, a little girl takes one look around and books it out of there as soon as she can. How much can Maisie endure before there is irreparable damage? The adults break far earlier than she does, but Maisie isn’t unscathed by her experiences.
Third, the acting is seamless. It feels more like a documentary than a film, and you’ll walk away wondering if you should call DCF or help the stepparents fight to adopt her.
What Maisie Knew is a riveting film and a must see unless you can’t bear to watch kids in psychological danger.