This movie is called “Both Eyes Open,” and why am I starting this article like this? Because when I was looking for this movie, I called it everything but the actual title. That was more so for me than it was for y’all.
Any who, I follow both Gail Bean and Tristan Mack Wilds (as well as Malcolm Mays, Gail’s best friend, and Christina, Mack’s wife. I’m a Stan!) and I saw this movie was in theaters a while back and it wasn’t showing in my city. Later, and by the grace of the network Gods, I found that it would be on Starz, and today (thanks to a post by Mack) I remembered to take the time to watch it. And I would like to say I KNEW IT!! Here’s what I knew. Cara was weird and I knew not to trust her!
Let me back up. “Both Eyes Open” is a story about Ally Fletcher, a woman his is trying to piece her life together after spending three years in a women’s shelter after being in a abusive relationship. Abusive doesn’t seem like the term to use since Ally mentioned Owen, her abuser, threatening to throw acid on her at one point in their relationship. Ally’s therapist, played by Taye Diggs, tells her that to further herself from these hallucinations she’s been having she should find a hobby. She chooses yoga after seeing a brochure for it in her best friend, Charlotte’s, binder at work. It’s at yoga where she meets Cara, who sort of becomes her new best friend. The trouble starts from there.
I knew Cara wasn’t worth trusting. When she met Ally, she seemed shifty. She always seemed like something was odd about her, and Charlotte caught the same vibe I did. Tangent incoming! I, Amber who writes this post, do not like a lot of people and therefore, do not like other people my friend may bring me. Much like Charlotte when Ally invited Cara over for a game night at her house. Charlotte was like, “I don’t trust this lady. I think you should leave this lady alone.” I, Amber, was at home talking to Ally through my TV saying the same thing, but here’s the thing, Ally is stupid. Listen to me! I adore Gail Bean. Gail is phenomenal, and I know Gail, as a person, is very smart. She played a stupid person very well. This is acting! At every turn, I was talking to Ally through my TV. And, yes, I understand Ally is a formerly battered woman, but when does the brain start working again? Lil’ baby was paranoid about the wrong thing!
Also, as an aside, Ally, Owen and Cara (maybe not Cara) are not names that I have heard for Black folks. I know someone reading this will have a rebuttal, but I kept thinking that when I kept hearing the names.
Back to the movie. The lesson you should take from this movie is be aware of who you invite around you and trust those true friends. I, like Charlotte, can be overbearing with my friends, but as my grandma was in life…I’m usually never wrong. Just saying.
Also, as I stated before, I am a Tristan Paul Mack Wilds stan! I don’t like how these writers have done my men. First Tyler Leply in “Duplicity,” and not Mack in this. I don’t like it! Y’all don’t have to play sinister so well. Stop it! It also through me off when I say the wedding ring on Owen’s finger when he popped up at the house. In real life, Mack is married and I said out loud, “Did you just not take your ring off or are all married?” It confused me. Obviously, Mack is a professional actor and this wasn’t an accident (watch the movie!). I don’t know if the intent of this movie was to make me feel like I was crazy, but it absolutely made me feel as if I was meant to be in the crazy house. If that wasn’t your intent, Ariel, then it’s a bonus for the viewer.
Y’all watch and tell me what you saw.
