Film discussion: Personal Shopper

The Music Hall is showing an interesting little movie called Personal Shopper that teams Olivier Assayas, the French director behind Clouds of Sils Maria (one of last year’s movies you meant to see, but didn’t) with Kristen Stewart, the actress who made headlines as Bella Swan in the Twilight saga, but has built up a solid list of other movie credits (including Clouds of Sils Maria). Assayas is known for doing almost what you expect in a movie and then sneaking a slow curve past you. Stewart is known for her portrayals of vulnerable, detached, spooky characters, but she can also surprise viewers with bursts of energy and humor.

Personal Shopper is a story about a young woman named Maureen who does the shopping for a celebrity named Kyra, buying her clothes, accessories, and jewelry. Maureen isn’t wild about the job, but it’s something to do while she waits for her recently-dead brother to make contact from beyond the grave, as he promised he would.

Olivier Assayas is a director of serious talent, and his gifts would seem to offer the possibility of getting a little more out of a ghost story (if that’s what it is) than some hack would. Between them, Assayas and Stewart have managed to run a chill up and down the spines of a bunch of film critics.

And if you’re thinking (as I am) that the role sounds perfect for an actress of Stewart’s slightly haunted gifts, I would recommend that you saddle your ponies and head to The Music Hall on Tuesday evening. We will adhere to our usual discipline of watching the movie together—showing at 7:00 in The Historic Theater—and then settle in for a spell with our free coffee and popcorn and talk about things.

And if you need something else to look forward to, you can put our discussion of Alive and Kicking on your calendar for May 30.

I hope to see you there.