I'm Your Woman Review: A Slow Burning, Exciting Period Drama

Release date: December 11, 2020
Running time: 120 minutes
Starring: Rachel Brosnahan, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Arinzé Kene 
Directed By: Julia Hart
Written By: Julia Hart, Jordan Horowitz

Suburban housewife Jean (Rachel Brosnahan, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) lives a seemingly easy life, supported by husband Eddie’s (Bill Heck) career as a thief. But when Eddie betrays his partners, Jean and her baby are forced to go on the run, and Eddie’s old friend Cal (Arinzé Kene) is tasked with keeping them safe. After Cal mysteriously disappears, Jean befriends his wife Teri (Marsha Stephanie Blake) and the two women set out on a perilous journey into the heart of Eddie’s criminal underworld. A decidedly female take on crime dramas of the 1970s, I’m Your Woman is a tale of love, betrayal, motherhood — and what it takes to claim your life as your own.

I'm Your Woman is set in the 70s and has a great style throughout.  From the clothes to the architecture to the nightlife this movie feels plucked out of a different world.  It is really fun to see some of the little touches such as cars with old style shocks or see some of the dated kitchen appliances that are utilized.  But it is not just the physical style that is emulated; the film also has an older attitude towards gender, marriage, and race.  These are all more subtle than the overt 70s style, but they are nonetheless important.  There is one scene where a police officer interacts with a black character and the sense of tension and fear is palatable.  

I'm Your Woman has a mysterious start that will get you hooked.  Jean lives a happy but oblivious life and this all comes crashing down one fateful night.  Once her life is turned upside down, she has to learn to rely on herself and her abilities to survive.  She is not alone and the people that do help her along the way are wonderful.  But in the end, it is on her to protect herself and her baby.  Each character that Jean meets along the way is quirky and has a slight mystery about them.  The film is all about keeping this mystery and causing the viewer to never quite know where people stand.  It intentionally hides certain aspects of their life and especially their past to keep up this charade.  It leads to some really wonderful tension as you wonder whose side someone is on.  

But overall, this is a movie about Jean and her progression as a character.  The film is a slow burning one as Jean focuses on herself and her child, trying to build a life for them both.  But that is not to say that this film is boring.  There are plenty of exciting scenes, including a noteworthy car chase, that will break up the overall slow pace.  But don't let that dissuade you as I loved the character development during the slower parts.  Each character is unique and well thought out, and learning more about them and seeing their interactions with Jean form a lot of the fun of the movie.  And each character teaches Jean something about herself and her abilities.  And what this results in is an overall satisfying journey concluding in an equally satisfying ending. 

I'm Your Woman has a wonderful cast of characters and a great 70s style, in this slow burning film about a woman's journey of self-discovery and confidence. 

Watch it.

If you liked this review and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider 

following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube. 

I'm Your Woman is available on Amazon Prime Video on December 11, 2020.