movie reviews violet

To the outside world, Violet would seem to have it all. She’s pretty, stylish, and she radiates a quiet confidence. She’s respected and adored in her thriving career as a film production executive in Los Angeles. And she lives with a longtime guy friend—a sweet and handsome screenwriter—in an impossibly cool mid-century modern house in the hills.

But inside her head, she tells herself a different story—or rather, “ The Committee ” does. The voice purrs menacingly, sadistically, criticizing and questioning every decision and conversation. She’s a pig. She’s in the way. She’s going to fail. She doesn’t belong. And she doesn’t deserve happiness or intimacy.

That gaping disparity provides the central conflict within writer/director Justine Bateman ’s feature filmmaking debut, “ Violet .” Moving from in front of the lens to behind it, the former ‘80s sitcom star clearly has something personal and piercing to say. Her film will surely resonate with so many others who hear their own nagging voices in their heads. And as the title character, Olivia Munn gets the chance to show dramatic abilities we haven’t seen from her previously. But there are so many layers of excessive, incessant style on display in the depiction of Violet’s deep insecurities, they feel like overbearing clutter, preventing Munn’s performance from shining through as powerfully as it should.

Besides the voice ( Justin Theroux , dripping with rich cruelty and sarcasm), Bateman also frequently reveals Violet’s more tender, vulnerable thoughts in the form of white cursive phrases scrawled across the screen. They’re her silent pleas to herself, to the world: “Is there something wrong with me?” “I feel like I don’t know who I am anymore.” “Please stay.” And when the pressure of a certain situation gets to be too much—a work meeting, or drinks with a friend—a low hum builds to a noisy din and a red wash floods the screen, drowning out everything, numbing her pain. “There,” the voice says soothingly. “Isn’t that better?”

As if all that weren’t enough, Bateman consistently cuts in quick snippets of violent and grotesque images throughout. A rapid-fire montage greets and grabs us from the start: car crashes, explosions, glass shattering, animals decaying. This startling artistic choice puts us on edge immediately and signals what kind of hyper-stylized film “Violet” is going to be. But then Bateman goes on to undermine herself by inserting brief flashes of this type of imagery in the middle of conversation to signify Violet’s building mania. Sometimes the cutaways are clunkily literal, such as a boxer getting punched in the face. The ultimate result is that Bateman takes away from the inherent drama or honesty she’d created in that moment. And finally, a flashback to a happier time in Violet’s life—riding her bicycle as a child in Michigan, smiling with the sun and wind in her hair—pops up and plays over and over like a home movie projected on whatever surface is nearby, whether it’s the inside of a tunnel or her bedroom wall. This is another device Bateman leans on too often, and at moments that sometimes seem random.

The first half hour or so of this approach feels exciting, but it soon grows repetitive and tiresome as Violet navigates a series of particularly stressful days, both personally and professionally. Munn subtly indicates the simmering panic of her character’s inner state, and how that anguish contrasts with her placid exterior. She’s fragile and jittery—you can feel her forcing the smiles between air kisses at Hollywood parties. The edgy strings of the score from Vum magnify the tension she’s feeling.

But the supporting players who might have fleshed out her character beyond her anxiety and doubt are drawn superficially at best. Luke Bracey is too good to be true as her hunky roommate and possibly more; it’s unlikely that he’s so perfect, still single, and not a shameless player. Erica Ash is stuck in an archaic trope as Violet’s best friend: a Black woman with no life of her own whose sole purpose seems to be showing up for drinks and listening to this woman’s problems.

And as if tackling and taming the character’s inner demons weren’t enough of an assignment for one movie, Bateman also tries to wedge in a Harvey Weinstein-inspired subplot, with Violet suffering humiliations and indignities from her sleazy, abusive boss ( Dennis Boutsikaris ), who founded the production company. Bateman has been around this business for most of her life, so there’s clearly a lot of truth in the story she’s telling. If only she’d let it speak for itself.

Now playing in select theaters and available on demand on November 9th.

movie reviews violet

Christy Lemire

Christy Lemire is a longtime film critic who has written for RogerEbert.com since 2013. Before that, she was the film critic for The Associated Press for nearly 15 years and co-hosted the public television series “Ebert Presents At the Movies” opposite Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, with Roger Ebert serving as managing editor. Read her answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here .

movie reviews violet

  • Olivia Munn as Violet
  • Colleen Camp as Connie Campos
  • Justin Theroux as The Voice
  • Kathleen Wilhoite as Waitress
  • Laura San Giacomo as Janice
  • Jason Dohring as Harry White
  • Anne Ramsay as Vanessa
  • Luke Bracey as Red
  • Todd Stashwick as Rick
  • Jay Friedkin
  • Justine Bateman

Cinematographer

  • Mark Williams

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Violet Reviews

movie reviews violet

Violet is always near-implosion, and “Violet” excels at making us feel the isolation and confusion of her unease.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Sep 8, 2024

movie reviews violet

In Violet, Justine Bateman gives a voice to the generations who are fighting silent battles with the voices in their head, highlighting the need for empathy and compassion.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 26, 2023

movie reviews violet

A film that gives us Olivia Munn’s career-best performance and explores gender politics and our inner voices, while offering a subjective experience that allows the viewer to decipher the film’s themes and messages.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Jan 31, 2023

movie reviews violet

Screenwriting legend Robert McKee said “characters must change… and the change must come from within”. Violet is a rather literal interpretation of this rule but is ultimately an empowering tale of believing in oneself.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 12, 2022

movie reviews violet

Violet‘s editing is truly inspired, overlying hand-scribbled cursive thoughts across the screen that crowd around Munn, intercutting scenes of shattered glass, a moldering fox corpse, a boxing match as The Voice brutalizes her.

Full Review | Original Score: B+ | Sep 24, 2022

movie reviews violet

It all makes for an assured feature film debut that tackles its subject matter from a unique and fresh perspective. It doesn’t always come together as intended, but I love that Bateman took chances.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Aug 16, 2022

movie reviews violet

Focuses on too many things, letting steam out of the cooker. But its structural experiments are by far more thought-provoking than its stumbles, adding a layer of analysis: Why is the "inner voice" within us always masculine? [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Jun 29, 2022

movie reviews violet

...at the helm of (the film's) success is Munn in a career-best performance.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Jun 27, 2022

movie reviews violet

Violet is a multilayered movie that effectively shows three psychological layers of an insecure person: the conscious mind, the subconscious mind, and how the person acts on any conflicts between the conscious and subconscious minds.

Full Review | Mar 8, 2022

movie reviews violet

In her taped introduction to Violet, actress-turned-filmmaker Justine Bateman describes it as an immersive experience, tantamount to putting on a coat. I would say it's slightly more akin to having a pillow on your face.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Mar 3, 2022

movie reviews violet

I can appreciate the innovative premise but not how it gets lost in its gimmickry and never gives us much of a story to get excited about.

Full Review | Original Score: C+ | Jan 22, 2022

movie reviews violet

Writer/director Justine Bateman's feature debut draws audiences into Violet's insecurities in a manner that is very surreal and vivid.

Full Review | Dec 12, 2021

movie reviews violet

Justine Bateman has an auspicious directorial debut in this moving movie about mental health.

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Nov 24, 2021

movie reviews violet

...the effort is appreciated, but the execution is muddled, at best.

Full Review | Original Score: C | Nov 18, 2021

movie reviews violet

"Munn's relatable and subtle performance gives Violet an anchor ... allowing us to become absorbed in Violet's cautious but fulfilling transformation."

Full Review | Nov 15, 2021

movie reviews violet

Their efforts have given us a supple and empathetic story of a woman who needs to start listening to herself, if her self is still in there somewhere.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Nov 12, 2021

movie reviews violet

It can be frustrating to watch, but it's also some of Munn's best work as a performer.

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Nov 12, 2021

movie reviews violet

Thanks in large part to Munn's elegant, authentic, grounded and moving performance, we're rooting hard for Violet to find some inner peace.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Nov 11, 2021

movie reviews violet

First-time feature director Justine Bateman and smashing lead Olivia Munn give personal demons and the Hollywood men's club some hell in this creative display of all that is backstage angst.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Nov 11, 2021

movie reviews violet

Violet is a bold and relatable story that takes us on an evocative journey of one woman who represents us all in varying gradations.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Nov 8, 2021

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Olivia Munn battles a bullying voice in her head in this unusual psychological drama.

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movie reviews violet

By Jeannette Catsoulis

Olivia Munn gives a terrific performance as the title character in “Violet,” if only her director, Justine Bateman, would allow us to see it. Crowding the screen with jarring sounds and disturbing visuals, Bateman experiments with so many cinematic frills and fancies that Munn’s touching work is too often obscured.

An assaultive opening introduces Violet, a Los Angeles film production executive in her thirties, amid a jangle of sensory discord. This is the inside of Violet’s head, a fear-filled space where competing monologues — she calls them “the committee” — play continuously. To follow her, we must attend to no fewer than three voices: one a bullying male (Justin Theroux) who batters Violet’s self-esteem; one scrawled across the screen, representing her private wishes; and a third the dialogue Violet speaks to the other characters.

This is a lot to ask of an audience, but Bateman isn’t finished. Whenever Violet fails to express her anger at, say, her louse of a boss (Dennis Boutsikaris) or her overbearing brother (Todd Stashwick), a wash of red dye stains the screen. Navigating her stressful job in a state of constant anxiety, Olivia is unable to fully unburden herself, either to her upbeat best friend (a warm Erica Ash) or the handsome, empathetic screenwriter (Luke Bracey) who is clearly perfect for her. Flashbacks to her Michigan childhood, where her sense of worth was slowly strangled by a hypercritical mother, hint at damage done; but the plot is so flimsy, and the supporting characters so shallowly drawn, that none of this has bite.

A fascinating idea that’s frustratingly underdeveloped, “Violet” is a sometimes uncomfortable watch, its ambition stifled by gimmickry and its ominous tone an unfulfilled promise.

Violet Rated R for a lot of harsh language and a wee bit of sex. Running time: 1 hour 32 minutes. In theaters.

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Common Sense Media Review

Jordan Elizabeth

Perfectionist seeks more authentic life in mature drama.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Violet starring is an edgy drama about learning to challenge your negative inner voices and believe in your own worth. Main character Violet (Olivia Munn), a movie producer, has lived a calculated life -- making choices based on others' expectations rather than by following her heart…

Why Age 15+?

Frequent use of the words "f--k," "bullsh--t," and "bitch."

Characters kiss and discreetly have sex in a private room at a party. No nudity.

Verbal sexual harassment between a manager and an employee. Arguments/harsh exch

Adults drink alcohol at bars, restaurants, and parties.

Any Positive Content?

Positive themes of personal courage and staying true to yourself.

Violet has lived a calculated life -- making choices based on others' expectatio

The main character is played by Olivia Munn, who has mixed ethnicity (White and

Parents need to know that Violet starring is an edgy drama about learning to challenge your negative inner voices and believe in your own worth. Main character Violet ( Olivia Munn ), a movie producer, has lived a calculated life -- making choices based on others' expectations rather than by following her heart. She realizes that, with each choice, she's chipped away at her authentic self, and she finally decides to do things differently. Mature content includes swearing ("f--k," "bullsh--t," "bitch," etc.), adults drinking at bars and parties, verbal sexual harassment involving a manager and an employee, an apartment fire, arguments, kissing, and a non-graphic sex scene. Ultimately, Violet displays personal courage and shows the value of staying true to yourself, even when it's difficult. Luke Bracey and Justin Theroux co-star.

To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Violence & Scariness

Verbal sexual harassment between a manager and an employee. Arguments/harsh exchanges. An apartment catches fire.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Messages

Positive role models.

Violet has lived a calculated life -- making choices based on others' expectations rather than by following her heart. She realizes that, with each choice, she's chipped away at her authentic self, and she finally decides to do things differently, learning to believe in her own worthiness.

Diverse Representations

The main character is played by Olivia Munn, who has mixed ethnicity (White and of Chinese descent); her best friend, who is Black, ends up fulfilling the cliched role of the "magical Black character" whose purpose is to help other characters in their self-actualization while accepting their mistreatment. While the story is female-centric, characters are broadly straight and able-bodied.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update .

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What's the Story?

In VIOLET, Violet ( Olivia Munn ) is a successful movie producer who's consumed by the negative voice in her head ( Justin Theroux ) that she refers to as "the committee." This voice spews constant criticism, verbal abuse, and threats. In the beginning, Violet finds a sense of comfort in listening to the voice; keeping herself small and obedient means that she doesn't have to risk being her true self. Then the voice causes her to "see red," which is visually represented by the screen becoming red in color. First, Violet lashes out at her best friend when asked about a passion project she hasn't pursued. Then does the same to an ex-boyfriend when she learns that he's married with a child. Violet starts to evaluate the hold that "the committee" has on her life and on her relationships. Why hasn't she followed through on her dreams? Why has she limited herself to romantic partners whom she thinks would benefit her career? Why has she put up with unkind, manipulative co-workers? So she commits herself to being free and starts to challenge all of the negative voices in her life: her boss, her brother, her aunt, her co-workers, her society, and, especially, the committee. Violet must decide whether she's willing to exchange her calculated, risk-free life for an imperfect life of freedom.

Is It Any Good?

Director Justine Bateman's drama explores negative self-talk, which is a particularly important topic for young people as they develop their own self-image. Violet's negative voice and her authentic voice are represented as visual opposites, similar to the old device of the angel and the devil on each shoulder. The negative voice is narrated by a male voice that causes Violet to "see red." The authentic voice is shown as text on the screen, unheard, and written in white cursive. The negative voice refers to Violet in the second-person perspective ("you"), while the authentic voice refers to her in the first-person ("I").

It's significant that the negative voice Violet hears is that of a White man: It represents the dominant narrative in society and the ways that that narrative's expectations and conditioning can harm women and others. Violet , however, does not make this connection explicit. Still, there's power in the message that you can let go of stories and beliefs that hold you back. It's worth noting, however, that the character who helps Violet with this realization is her Black friend, Lila (Erica Ash). That puts her in the all-too-cliched role of the "magical Black character" whose purpose is to help other characters in their self-actualization, all while accepting their mistreatment.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about how Violet exercises personal courage in the movie. In what ways is she brave?

Why do you think the voice in Violet's mind is called "the committee"? Have you ever felt judged by others -- or yourself?

What is the significance of the voice in Violet's head being a man's?

Movie Details

  • In theaters : October 29, 2021
  • On DVD or streaming : November 9, 2021
  • Cast : Olivia Munn , Luke Bracey , Justin Theroux
  • Director : Justine Bateman
  • Inclusion Information : Female directors, Female actors, Asian actors
  • Studio : Relativity Media
  • Genre : Drama
  • Character Strengths : Courage
  • Run time : 92 minutes
  • MPAA rating : R
  • MPAA explanation : language throughout and some sexual references
  • Last updated : June 22, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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Tiff review: violet is a moving, eccentric film that is elevated by olivia munn.

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It’s hard to visualize someone’s nagging anxiety and self-doubt, but Violet , Justine Bateman’s directorial debut (which she also wrote), attempts to do just that by portraying it externally and in very public situations. Starring Olivia Munn in the titular role, Bateman successfully navigates the self-sabotaging voice in Violet’s head that disrupts every facet of her life. Elevated by a stunning performance by Munn, Violet conveys the challenges of living in one’s head in greatly effective, if somewhat tedious, ways.

On the surface, Violet (Munn) seems like she has it all: a great career as a successful and beloved film executive, she works at a well-known firm where the films she’s produced have won awards, she’s got good friends, connections, looks, and money. And yet, Violet’s internal voice (a perfect and insidiously cruel Justin Theroux), which she calls “the committee” in her head, is loud and constantly threatens to derail every single choice. The voice calls her a baby, an idiot, and claims she should take the verbal abuse of others who undermine her, including her boss (Dennis Boutsikaris) and family, because it’s the only way to stay on top and is what she deserves. Being happy is not an option, nor is doing what Violet wants, which is to stop listening to the voice. 

Related:  TIFF Review: The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain Is A Captivating, Uneven Biopic

The villain of the story is the committee. It overpowers Violet’s own wants and needs, which silently appear as cursive text onscreen — “Don’t go” or “Why can’t I stop the voice in my head?” — as the voice snipes that she will never be good enough for anyone or anything. Bateman doesn’t shy away from the fact that Violet, by comparison to most people, does have privilege. She’s made it in an industry that is hard to break into and is seemingly doing what she wants despite the committee claiming she should’ve studied something else in college. However, the film clearly showcases how Violet truly feels on the inside, undercutting the façade of her external life as seen by others.

Munn delivers a stunning performance, allowing her facial expressions and body language to convey the opposite of what she is communicating verbally to those around her. Her eyes say so much in the span of a few seconds and, despite the text telling the audience what Violet is truly feeling, Munn does most of the heavy lifting with her mesmerizing, nuanced performance that thankfully overshadows the monotony of the words’ constant appearances. The film is a showcase of her talent, which has been largely underutilized in other films. 

It would have been easy for Bateman to let style speak over substance, but Violet delivers a striking message in an eccentric way, one that isn’t soon to be forgotten. The message is, ostensibly, to find freedom by breaking away from the mind’s own barriers which, in the film, are revealed to have been influenced by Violet’s verbally abusive mother and a relationship with an ex-boyfriend that ended badly. While not everyone has reliable and helpful friends, as Violet does in Red (Luke Bracey), the childhood friend who is always there for her, and Lila (Erica Ash, who deserved more screen time), the film ultimately gets around to its point: to get out of this self-sabotaging cycle is a personal journey one must ultimately overcome on their own. 

The story is bolstered by emotion, clever editing by Jay Friedkin that showcases the dread Violet feels with dark, disturbing images appearing as certain scenes fade to depict the incoming silence of her mind, and character development that lends itself to a satisfactory conclusion. The film's strengths ultimately counter the tediousness of the film, which occasionally disrupt the otherwise good pace. What’s more, Violet is universal and speaks to anyone who has been hindered by crippling self-doubt or held back by toxic people, be they family members or bosses at work. Wanting better for oneself isn’t a bad thing, no matter what the invasive and cruel voice says otherwise.  

Next:  TIFF Review: All My Puny Sorrows Is Poignant, But Doesn't Dig Deep Enough

Violet had its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2021. The film is 92 minutes long and is rated R for language throughout and some sexual references.

Breakfast at Tiffany's

Breakfast at Tiffany's is a romantic comedy film by director Blake Edwards and is based on Truman Capote's 1958 novella. The 1961 film stars Buddy Ebsen, Audrey Hepburn, Patricia Neal, and George Peppard. The plot revolves around Holly Golightly as she falls in love and the trials and tribulations that come along with it.  

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User reviews

VIOLET (2021)

note to self

  • Mar 18, 2021

Enough Already

  • Sep 15, 2021

Good but the voice should have been female

  • cwhitehead-48339
  • Mar 19, 2022
  • Nov 11, 2021

Nice cringe material here

  • edgy-827-486965
  • Nov 8, 2021

In Your Head

  • jeroduptown
  • Jun 3, 2022

INSTAGRAM STORY: THE MOVIE

  • naturenomad
  • Nov 14, 2021

Those who GET THIS will get this!

  • catfanatic888
  • Nov 23, 2021

Tried way too hard

  • brchthethird
  • Dec 11, 2021

A struggle to sit through the dialogue and monologue...

  • paul_haakonsen
  • Jan 31, 2022

Vastly underrated, reviewers need more appreciation for indie filmmaking

Tough to hinge a plot around a device.

  • Dec 9, 2022

Gawd awful and amateurish.

  • Jun 1, 2022

Wish I could rate higher

  • Jul 9, 2022

Enjoyed the film

  • branstarone
  • Jan 10, 2023

Would have been a BRILLIANT short piece - IMHO

  • Apr 10, 2022

Sends an important message

  • Nov 24, 2021

Good idea wasted on flat plot for the second half

  • TheOneThatYouWanted
  • May 19, 2023
  • kerrya-63141
  • Dec 2, 2021

Decent Story, but poor execution

  • Dec 27, 2021

Tiresome inaccurate movie

  • flashfluidimdb
  • Sep 11, 2022

It's not trying to be arty

  • Nov 15, 2021

Those who know what it means know what it means

A story of self-empowerment / turning your life around.

  • LoverofAllThingsFilm
  • Mar 25, 2022

Would be nice not to understand this movie

  • Mar 20, 2022

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‘violet’: film review | sxsw 2021.

Olivia Munn toplines Justine Bateman's feature directorial debut, the story of a Hollywood executive's struggle to turn off the hostile voice in her head and live a more authentic life.

By Sheri Linden

Sheri Linden

Senior Copy Editor/Film Critic

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Violet

In a memorable episode of Seinfeld , George Costanza decides to change his life by doing the opposite of what he usually does in his daily decision-making. That same existential experiment drives Violet , although without the intended laughs. For the title character, played by Olivia Munn, the switch isn’t as easy as it was for George. But after a lifetime of obeying “the committee” in her head, she’s increasingly aware of the disconnect between the life she leads and the life she wants.

That committee is really one guy, a dictatorial meanie voiced by Justin Theroux , as The Voice. His withering put-downs and harsh orders to Violet are woven into and around the film’s dialogue and action. A second voice also reacts to what’s going on, but it’s a silenced one, the voice of Violet’s innermost desires and questions. These thoughts appear onscreen in large handwritten text: “What’s wrong with me?”; “I want you to stay”; “Why have I been afraid to do the things I love?” The ensuing back-and-forth pits Violet’s inner enemy (what practitioners of The Tools know as Part X ) against Violet’s soul.

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At particularly self-defeating moments for her protagonist, writer-director Justine Bateman injects flashing images of disaster, violence and decomposing animals. The screen might go red and the score, by Los Angeles electronic-rock trio Vum, might deepen its groan. It doesn’t take long to catch on to this multichannel narrative scheme, with its disturbing visuals and conflicting voices. But you might soon hear an additional voice — the one in your head wondering where the self-improvement earnestness leaves off and the satire begins, if at all, and just what to make of Violet herself. Is she an emblematic figure or one we’re supposed to take at face value?

She’s a 30-something production executive who’s staying with her screenwriter friend Red (Luke Bracey) in his hilltop midcentury spread while her rain-damaged kitchen is being repaired. His place is also undergoing renovation. That’s the world we’re in, the circle of high-end L.A. real estate and high-powered social circles. (The small company where Violet works is headquartered in the landmark Sowden House .) Following her inner committee’s orders, Violet puts up with the condescension and disrespect of people who technically report to her, transparent manipulator Bradley (Zachary Gordon) and the oozingly snarky Julie (Cassandra Cardenes). As with most organizations, the stink starts at the head; Violet’s boss is a first-rate louse, played by an exceptionally hissable Dennis Boutsikaris.

Her protective assistant, Keith (Keith Powers), can’t understand why she puts up with the abuse, but he doesn’t know about the voice in her head. On that front, Violet has confided in only one person, her friend Lila (Erica Ash), and their initial conversation on the matter doesn’t go very well. A production designer with a strong self-image (“My parents told me I’m great”), Lila urges Violet to think of Red as more than her geeky childhood friend. But even though he’s single, handsome, supportive, kind and emotionally available — not to mention sharing his home with her — he’s not an executive and therefore, according to Violet, not “the type of guy I should be dating.”

But still she finds herself avoiding the calls of the studio hotshot (Peter Jacobson) who would fit that bill. Something in her carefully maintained mission to ascend the ladder is coming apart at the seams. The abstract poetry-based passion project she pushed aside starts resurfacing (in Hollywood?!), even as she plows ahead with the redundantly titled game-based movie Fireflame , and endures long-distance intrusions of disdain and jealousy from her brother (Todd Stashwick) and aunt (Bonnie Bedelia) back in the Midwest.

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Hollywood vet Bateman has a sure eye for the industry scene, from its transactional-sex deals with the devil to the eateries that are about being seen as much as being fed. Her observations of the biz and its various types can be sharp, and the three-minute sequence that puts 45 crewmembers onscreen after the closing credits serves as a cleansing tonic after the parade of egos during the preceding hour and a half.

She draws naturalistic performances from Munn and a large supporting cast. But the story itself finally feels lost beneath the levels of artifice rather than heightened by it. The stakes for Violet certainly matter to her, but they haven’t the dramatic heft to make them matter to us. A Hollywood denizen who has never considered therapy is a little hard to believe, but there are times when Violet’s mental health seems like a problem that calls for more than a shrink. The less said about a flashback incident involving candles, the better.

However constant and extreme Violet’s doubts and self-criticism are, certainly most of us can relate to the general experience, and to Lila’s comment to Violet that “maybe you’ve cast yourself in a role you don’t want to play anymore.” But as age-old and universal as the careerism-vs.-happiness clash at the heart of Violet  is, it’s hard to relate to its central character’s bravery. The supposed big leaps that Violet takes — between one executive position and another, and into the arms of the dreamboat standing two feet away — fall short of the mark. I’m curious to see what Bateman does next. Violet, not so much.

Venue: South by Southwest Film Festival (Spotlight) Production companies: Section 5 in association with Loose Cannon Pictures Cast: Olivia Munn, Luke Bracey, Justin Theroux, Bonnie Bedelia, Zachary Gordon, Erica Ash, Simon Quarterman, Rob Benedict, Dennis Boutsikaris, Todd Stashwick, Laura San Giacomo, Jim O’Heir, Peter Jacobson, Keith Powers, Cassandra Cardenas, Al Madrigal, Rain Phoenix, Anne Ramsay, Colleen Camp, Federico Dordei, Jason Dohring, Jordan Belfi Director-screenwriter: Justine Bateman Producers: Justine Bateman, Michael D Jones, Larry Hummel, Matt Paul Executive producers: Cassian Elwes, Jay Paul, Matt Lituchy, Rob Rubano, Jonathan Schurgin, Anders Liljeblad Director of photography: Mark Williams Production designer: Fernanda Guerrero Costume designer: Peggy A. Schnitzer Editor: Jay Friedkin Music: Vum Casting directors: Orly Sitowitz, Stacey Pianko Sales: CAA

92 minutes 

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  2. REVIEW: “Violet” (2021)

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  3. Violet (2020)

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  5. Violet character-based drama Violet

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COMMENTS

  1. Violet movie review & film summary (2021)

    And as if tackling and taming the character's inner demons weren't enough of an assignment for one movie, Bateman also tries to wedge in a Harvey Weinstein-inspired subplot, with Violet suffering humiliations and indignities from her sleazy, abusive boss (Dennis Boutsikaris), who founded the production company. Bateman has been around this ...

  2. Violet (2021)

    Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/18/24 Full Review Lisa T This movie accurately portrays what it's like to live with mental health issues and the battles associated with it. If ...

  3. Violet

    Violet is a multilayered movie that effectively shows three psychological layers of an insecure person: the conscious mind, the subconscious mind, and how the person acts on any conflicts between ...

  4. 'Violet' Review: In Two Minds

    Whenever Violet fails to express her anger at, say, her louse of a boss (Dennis Boutsikaris) or her overbearing brother (Todd Stashwick), a wash of red dye stains the screen.

  5. Violet (2021)

    Violet: Directed by Justine Bateman. With Olivia Munn, Luke Bracey, Justin Theroux, Dennis Boutsikaris. Violet realizes that her entire life is built on fear-based decisions, and must do everything differently to become her true self.

  6. Violet Movie Review

    Parents need to know that Violet starring is an edgy drama about learning to challenge your negative inner voices and believe in your own worth. Main character Violet (Olivia Munn), a movie producer, has lived a calculated life -- making choices based on others' expectations rather than by following her heart.She realizes that, with each choice, she's chipped away at her authentic self, and ...

  7. TIFF Review: Violet Is A Moving, Eccentric Film That Is Elevated By

    Next: TIFF Review: All My Puny Sorrows Is Poignant, But Doesn't Dig Deep Enough. Violet had its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2021. The film is 92 minutes long and is rated R for language throughout and some sexual references.

  8. Violet (2021)

    Violet (2021) on IMDb: Movies, TV, Celebs, and more... Menu. Movies. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. TV Shows. ... Some of the reviews here I've read don't make a lot of sense to me. I thought every component of the film worked perfectly.

  9. 'Violet': Film Review

    Movies; Movie Reviews 'Violet': Film Review | SXSW 2021. Olivia Munn toplines Justine Bateman's feature directorial debut, the story of a Hollywood executive's struggle to turn off the hostile ...

  10. Violet Reviews

    Violet Calder, a 32 year-old film executive, realizes that the voice inside her head has been lying to her. ... Be the first to add a review. Add My Review Details Details View All. Production Company SECTION 5. Release Date Oct 29, 2021. Duration 1 h 32 m. ... Find a list of new movie and TV releases on DVD and Blu-ray (updated weekly) as well ...