After the quiet power of “Past Lives”, Celine Song pivots sharply with her latest film “The Materialists”. A glossy, biting, but ultimately hollow exploration of transactional love in New York City.
“The Materialists” follows Lucy (Dakota Johnson), a high-end matchmaker who connects wealthy singles based on material compatibility, namely looks, income, and influence, not love. Her worldview is cynical, and her approach to relationships is rooted in commissions, not connections. When Lucy meets Harry (Pedro Pascal), a nepo baby with an apartment straight out of Architectural Digest, she sees a potential match in the rare unicorn bachelor. But soon, her ex-boyfriend John (Chris Evans), a struggling theater actor still living like a college student well into his thirties, reenters the picture and Lucy is forced to confront what she actually values, if anything at all.
The film’s concept is rich with potential. There’s a tension between capitalism and connection, between curated perfection and messy authenticity. Celine Song does deliver moments that land, like a raw street argument between Lucy and a client Sophie who was sexually assaulted by a match after their first date, or a tender late-night conversation between exes at a wedding. Pedro Pascal, in particular, brings warmth and depth to a character that could’ve been a caricature.
But ultimately, “The Materialists” fails to dig deep. Johnson’s Lucy remains emotionally stagnant and the film’s attempts at satire often lean too shallow, as if Song is hesitant to fully critique the very world she’s built. The most divisive element? Bookending the film with caveman sequences meant to parallel modern relationships. Let’s just say it didn’t land — and the audience at my screening laughed, not with it.
Still, there’s no denying Song’s gift for framing and atmosphere. Cinematographer Shabier Kirchner brings a voyeuristic elegance to the visuals, using long lenses, street-level distance, and static compositions to highlight the performative nature of modern relationships.
“The Materialists” is watchable, often beautiful, and sometimes sharp. But it’s missing the soul that made “Past Lives” so unforgettable. Still, I’ll be first in line for whatever Celine Song makes next.
Watch the full review now on The Wandering Screen with Matt Koss on YouTube.
Letter grade: C