Why 'The Novice' Is The Best Movie You Haven’t Seen!

"The Anatomy of the Obsessed Artist" has become a popular term within the film community, representing a genre of art focused on the pursuit of flawlessness; Whiplash, and Black Swan are ever-popular and shining examples of the trope, but there has been a small-yet-powerful resurgence within the past years to represent these characters in newer, bolder visions. 

The Novice, written and directed by Lauren Hadaway, is the story of a college freshman who innocuously joins the novice rowing team and immediately finds herself hyper-focused on being crowned the best among her beginner competition. The film wastes no time on world building -- a risky but ultimately significant choice -- and begins as caliginous and damp as the tortured ending. Alex Dall, played by Orphan and The Hunger Games actress Isabelle Fuhrman, has spent her life working hard for what she has and using competition as a form of drive in her academic spheres. She admits to her TA Dani (played by Dilone) that, at the beginning of high school, a boy made her feel insecure about scores by not only getting better grades but finishing the test faster than her. This inspired a fierce, one-sided rivalry that is evident in present-day Alex’s arduous schedule of rowing, homework, rowing, and more rowing. 

This film, and others like it, speaks to a specific person. It serves as a warning, a caricature of hard work, the reminder that power demands the price of blood. Fuhrman gives the most captivating performance of her career as she spirals down into the world of competitive rowing but also relies on Alex’s brave moments of humanity to create an understandable character. The haunting, standout moment of Alex furiously batting away tears after “catching a crab” (losing control of your oar and often causing a harsh injury) and costing the Varsity team a win shows that she is not a supernatural being with no feelings. She is simply a girl, obsessed with something great. This kind of character Hadaway has written begs the question: Would you not take this chance? If you knew you could be the best, would you not work for it? Would you not bleed for it? 

Ironically, one must reach perfection if they attempt this genre to get it right. Without a dedicated creative team and a diligent crew, such a touch-and-go film can fall flat and completely undersell the meaning of dedication and how-far-is-too-far. Too much gore in a film like this and it easily becomes horror. Not enough character work creates an easily forgettable narrative. All rough-and-tumble and no peace makes the movie a dull chore. Lauren Hadaway wrote a well-paced and whip-smart script and directed it with a brilliant fervor, taking care to understand the importance of the content matter. Isabelle Fuhrman’s performance was a shining jewel in The Novice’s crown, a slick and gritty headfirst dive into her painful character that is simply award-worthy. 

The Novice is the best movie you haven’t seen from 2021, and it is now available to purchase on Amazon Prime, ITunes, and anywhere else you rent movies. We look forward to the future of Hadaway and her creative endeavors, and we applaud this film with great sincerity.