The Novice (2021)

Sometimes life happens and last week was one of those times. But fear not, we are getting back on track. You get a double dose of the A-to-Z Part Deux challenge this weekend. First up, we have the letter “N” and Nicole Hilliard-Forde (Casting Director). The movie that she casted we are looking at is…The Novice (2021).

Title: The Novice

Director: Lauren Hadaway

Released: June 13, 2021 (Tribeca Film Festival)

Runtime: 1 hour 37 minutes

Available to stream on: Showtime

Alex Dall (Isabelle Fuhrman) is a freshman at Wellington College who decides to join the school’s novice rowing team. All it takes is one visit to a training class and Alex is obsessed. No matter what she’s doing or where she’s going, she’s thinking about rowing. “Arms body legs. Legs body arms. Arms body legs. Legs body arms.”

While Alex works hard to become the top novice, she is continuously bested by fellow-freshman, Jamie Brill (Amy Forsyth). Jamie is equally as competitive as Alex, especially since she views rowing as her path to an academic scholarship. There’s one big difference between them though; while Alex has to work hard and push herself to her limits in order to get better, rowing seems to just come naturally to Jamie.

Whether it is in practice with everyone else or alone during school breaks, Alex pushes herself to unhealthy limits in order to become the best. The goal is the varsity team, and nothing is going to stop her from achieving that goal.

Alex’s health, friendships, and overall well-being further deteriorate. But it is all worth it in the end as long as she proves, through hard work and tenacity, that she is the best.

Isn’t it?

What if I told you that this was the feature debut for writer/director Lauren Hadaway? Pretty wild, huh?

Isabelle Fuhrman is perfectly cast as Alex. There’s something slightly terrifying about her obsession, but at the same time, you are just as stressed as she is in hopes that she succeeds. You forget that “oh hey, it’s Esther from Orphan.” and instead are completely engulfed in the character of Alex Dall.

While Fuhrman gives an outstanding performance, there are three aspects of The Novice (2021) that really stole the show. The music, the sound, and the editing are all absolutely phenomenal. This makes a lot of sense as to why once you learn that Lauren Hadaway was the sound editor for Whiplash. While Lauren did have a hand in the editing here, let’s not overlook to the entire sound team, Alex Weston (composer), Todd Martin (director of photography), and Nathan Nugent (editor) who all deserve just as much credit.

I learned a lot about a sport I knew very little of. It was refreshing to see the “troubled artist” trope used with a student athlete being said troubled artist. Most of all, there is something to be said of a movie that is ninety-seven minutes long without a single ounce of fat on it.

If you have not seen The Novice (2021), please use your arms, body, and legs to fix that.

Well, those are my thoughts on it. But what are yours? Tell me what you thought of The Novice (2021) in the comments below or by reaching out on social media!

So, what will be next for the letter “O”? We’ll have Ori Gilady (Hairstylist) and the movie of Ori’s being reviewed will be Lapsis (2020).

Want to get a sneak peek at what’ll be coming up for the letter “P”? Keep an eye on Threads and Instagram this Wednesday!