Lucy

94%

Lucy is a movie that reminds me to always pay attention to what is on the screen, not "what should be" or "that cannot happen."  There is a specific story created and the audience should go on that ride and not try to dwell on what could have been or what isn't on the ride - you will enjoy films much more if you try and think of how you would do it better.  This is not a movie that everyone will enjoy, but I can tell you it will be one of those movies that become more clear the more you view it.  This film seems to have been made to attempt to unlock more than 10% of the audiences brain as it is that in depth and sometimes difficult to comprehend and you find yourself trying really hard.  I felt slightly ignorant watching this and that is a sign that this movie succeeded greatly.  I was trying to grasp on to every detail and make sense of it, but at times, much like Morgan Freeman's research in the movie, was just unexplainable because it has never happened before.  

Scarlett Johansson and Morgan Freeman drive this film from beginning to end.  The evolution of Scarlett's Lucy is flawlessly performed.  When you first meet this character she is tricked into getting involved with a drug deal and she is a naive, seemingly ignorant nobody.  Once the occurrence takes place that catalyzes her to being able to utilize more than 10% of her brain, Scarlett clearly shows you every increment of percentage that is opening up in her brain.  Morgan Freeman plays a scientist that has studied the brain his entire career and focuses on what can happen in the future when evolution allows us to use more of our brain.  His character beautifully describes the fact that evolution has not finished and there are capabilities that nature has yet to evolve into.  This is the first instance of this film that really makes the audience think and has you buying into the story line.  These two come together and the intelligence and visuals are breathtaking and a lot to grasp onto on the first viewing.

The only problem that I had with the film is the connection that I did not have with any character -  including her brain.  The beginning of the movie has you sympathetic with Lucy.  Once you are quickly upset with what has happened to her the plot shifts and her brain is a character in the film.  She shows one small modern human aspect with the police officer she utilizes, but that is instantly gone when you have hope for her underneath all of the brain work.  Morgan Freeman's character enlightens you at the beginning of the film, but is quick to tell you that he does not know what could happen after a certain percentage is unlocked.  He doesn't know, Lucy doesn't know, and the audience is trying their hardest to understand.  

The work in trying to understand is a very enjoyable part of this film.  We get to be a part of the action because no one in the movie knows exactly what is going to happen to her.  While we feel ignorant at times, we are on the same level of the scientist at a certain point.  

Lucy is a film that not only deserves and demands 100% of your attention (and your brain if you can unlock it), but deserves multiple views.  This film will only get better with age and the amount of times that you view it.  I could not remember some of the things Freeman talks about at the beginning of the film, but now that I know what happens, I will be paying attention to those details next time.  This is a perfect example of a film that needs you to be alone in the theater.