Darren Aronofskysmother!isRosemarys Babyamped up into a fugue state of self-indulgent solipsism.

Its also likely to be the love-it-or-hate-it movie of the season.

And he really wants you to know that hes been thinking a lot about what that means.

Unfortunately, his gaze is so deep into his own navel that its just exasperating.

Lawrences unnamed character dotes on her husband a brooding, self-involved poet gripped with writers block.

Speaking of doormats, theirs is about to get a workout.

Late one night, theres an unexpected knock at the door.

He says he thought the place was a B&B.

But rather than turn him away, Bardem invites him in to spend the night.

Like Lawrence, we think:Wait, what?

And he immediately makes himself at home.

The next morning, Harris wife (Michelle Pfeiffer) shows up.

Shes a boozy, sexy, pushy pill who makes her husband look like Emily Post.

He opens their house up to her like a long lost relative too.

Lawrence registers these violations of privacy and personal space sheepishly.

Anyone whos seen Roman Polanskis 1968 chiller masterpieceRosemarys Babywill immediately get a whiff of deja-vu watchingmother!unfold.

And Harris and Pfeiffer are the nosy, steamrolling older neighbors played by Sidney Blackmer and Ruth Gordon.

It isnt too hard to see where this is all headed for poor J-Law.

Even the big, spooky house feels as claustrophobic and psychotically alive as the apartment in PolanskisRepulsion.

Butmother!is more (and less) than an exercise in hand-me-down pastiche.

One suspects that Aronofsky is working through some issues about the pitfalls of genius.

The movie doesnt know when to stop.

Lawrence is clearly the star of the movie.

Shes in every scene and its her unraveling, gaslit point of view were supposed to identify with.

But theres something about the role that doesnt quite fit her.

Shes always been an actress of strength, independence, and agency.

It wastes the quality that usually makes her such a powerhouse screen presence.

Some will no doubt find all of its flash and portent to be deep and provocative.

Those in the second camp wont be wrong.C