SKINCARE

US, 2024, 96 minutes, Colour.

Elizabeth Banks, Lewis Pullman, Luis Gerardo Mendez, Michaela J (M.J.) Rodriguez, Nathan Fillion, Eric Palladino, John Billingsly.

Directed by Austin Peters.

The title is very straightforward and for audiences who follow the beauty industry, the developments for skincare, the range of products, the applications, endorsements by celebrities, there is much to enjoy. However, this is a tongue-in-cheek focus on an ambitious businesswoman, 20 years working, Hollywood and LA clientele, about to launch her own beauty line.

Non-skincare fans may well cross off this film for their viewing list. But, a hesitation. Some have called it a thriller. There is some violent action, a death, police investigation, twists and betrayals. But, it may be better to avoid the word thriller with its expectations these days of continued fast action, and see Skincare as something of a dark comedy with satiric touches.

The audience is certainly taking into the world of skincare, beauty centres, rivalries, marketing, finance and difficulties, promos on popular television shows. And, at the centre, making up her face in the mirror in close-up during the opening credits, is Elizabeth Banks as Hope Goodman. All seems to be going well (except for her landlord demanding the rent which she doesn’t quite have), anticipating the launch, and having her moments being interviewed on a television chat show.

In fact, for most of the running time, the plan goes to pieces. First of all, Latino charmer, Angel, with slick expertise sets up Shimmer Beauty only 20 paces away from Hope Goodman’s Salon. And she loses a lot of her clientele because of his publicity. As expected. And he gets the television slot instead of her.

Then things go quite skewiff. Enter a young man, (Lewis Pullman) martial arts training, setting himself up as a life counsellor, charming Hope, ready to intervene. Especially as a horrifying online campaign against her spreads like social media wildfire, false texting, manufactured photos, and even the advertising of sex programs at the salon. She needs Jordan’s help. And after her tires slashed, she needs the help of her friend, Amin, where her new stock is stored.

Most of us in the audience will pick up what is happening before Hope does. Which is a pity, because she tangles issues, her calls for help, attacks on Angel, some disillusionment for her – and the police arriving.

If this sounds interesting and/or entertaining, that is certainly what we are offered. And, her TV interview finally being played but with excerpts edited in a twist against her. Entertaining if not memorable.

1. Based on a true story, Hollywood, the beauty industry, rivalries, tactics, violence, consequences?
2. The title, the opening and Hopes face, the range of cosmetics, preparing herself, the arrival of the police? The action going back two weeks?
3. The Los Angeles setting, Hollywood atmosphere, affluence, business, the beauty industry, realistic aspects, satirical aspects? Implied criticisms?
4. Elizabeth Banks as Hope Goodman, her age, career, devoting herself to beauty, her clients, facials and massages, her own line, made in Italy, the preparation for the launch? Marina working with her, loyal assistant? At the television station, the popular compere is, the filming, her confident talking (and this later being used against her)?
5. Hope and her relationship with our clients, the list, the visits? The business opposite her, her going over, the encounter with Angel, Shimmer as his title, beauty, his premises, his clients?
6. Hope and her reaction, going to the landlord, business is business, the threats about the rent, her plea? Lyons visit and her bringing Jordan, young, his age, the discussions, her attraction?
7. Jordan, initial information, in jail, photographer, his photographing Hope and his charm, flattery? His being a life counsellor? Hope and the conversations about Angel, the various clients and meeting with Hope, that changing and going to Angel, her challenging them?
8. Use of the Internet, messages in texting, for some messages, photos, sex programs listed? The effect on Hope, with Marina, desperate, tires slashed going to her friend, Men, and his holding the boxes of her cosmetics before the launch? The effect on Hope her becoming more and more desperate? The slashing of her tires? The big men approaching her, violent, sex, Jordan arriving and fighting them?
9. Hope, the police and complaints, listening and not listening?
10. Television, Angel and his appearance and talk, the host, Hope contacting Brett, his sexual proposal, her reaction, recording him? His desperation, her saying she deleted the recording? Holding it over him, the phone calls, putting her segment to air? The mysterious man watching her in the diner, following her in the street – and the final revelation that he was hired by Brett and said that the tape was deleted?
11. Hope, following Angel, at home, his karaoke singing?
12. Hope, the phone calls, demanding on Jordan, his coming, waiting, and the audience knowing who really was, the men in his martial arts and life course, hiring them for a further attack on Hope? His becoming more and more desperate, phoning the police anonymously about Hope?
13. Hope, finding the truth about Jordan, his slashing the tires? Her wanting to set him up?
14. Yet her continued animosity towards Angel, going to Amin, his going to the house, assaulting Angel, his own wound, driving, his crash?
15. Marina, a relationship with Jordan, giving up hope the address, her going to confront him, the baseball bat?
16. The police, the assault on Angel, suspicions?
17. Angel in his recovery, the effect on Hope, the suspicions because of the men and Jordan, the police coming to get her, her moment in the limelight, photographed?
18. Brett and the host, playing the interview with Hope, her own words implying that she had gone into action against her arrival?