"Puzzle" Movie Review
Puzzle begins with its main character, Agnes, as a particular, yet dutiful housewife with a blue collar husband and two late-teen sons, but when she discovers her talent for solving jigsaw puzzles, she begins a complicated journey of self-discovery.
Kelly Macdonald plays Agnes, portraying the character's sheltered and timid personality perfectly, occasionally causing viewers to forget this takes place in present day with Google, iPhones, and constant bombardment of doom-and-gloom news. However, as the character grows, her ambitions and motivations morph too, and the transition is empowering, even if it's potentially detrimental.
The lies Agnes tells to do what she enjoys are uncomfortable. So are the character flaws of her morally upstanding husband, and the tension that manifests when truths come to light. But this is the film's way of challenging viewers on what an individual should and should not tolerate.
By the end, Agnes learns is that, unlike the components of her hobby, she's not a piece molded for one specific place and purpose....and just like that, the metaphor is reversed. As she brings puzzles from clutter to perfect order, the movie dissolves her narrative from picture perfect to fragmented. Interestingly enough, both reveal a special bigger picture.
Acting and Casting - 2 | Visual Effects and Editing - 2 | Story and Message - 2 | Entertainment Value - 1 | Music Score and Soundtrack - 1 | Reviewer's Preference - 1 | What does this mean?