As part of my movie reviewing process I'll give a film one or more tags if there is something noteworthy - best, worst, favorite, smile, rom com he'll watch, etc.  One of the tags that I'll use on occasion is "not for everyone".  Madeline's Madeline is not for everyone.

The film is more of an experience than anything.  First and foremost, it takes a while to watch the film.  The late great comedian Patrice O'Neal once said that he didn't know how to watch certain movies and I think of that a lot.  It takes a little while to figure out what is going on and then once you get the rhythm and the symbolism in the film it starts to make sense.

That is until it gets turned on its ear several times.  The changes in the plot aren't necessarily earth-shattering and as with all great films (IMHO) the changes are subtle.  What you thought one thing is now another thing.   The film never sits in one place for too long and often feels like it is in many places all at once without being all over the place (yes, I realize that sounds like a contradiction).

The movie has been described as trippy but I don't necessarily believe that to be true.  I think the director did something special - she came up with a new and fresh way to tell a story.  I think what might be the most interesting part of the film is that it didn't really feel like any other film that I've seen before.  At times it reminded me of the end of 2001:  A Space Odyssey mixed with a little Black mirror but really that's a stretch.  My two favorite films of 2018 (this and The Rider) each came up with creative ways to make film.

And finally.... holy [spoiler]shit[/spoiler] can Helena Howard act.  In a way it reminded me of when I saw Winter's Bone - it was pretty easy to see that young actress (Jennifer Lawrence) was about to break out.

Some notes that I took during the film, in chronological order.

[spoiler]How to watch?[/spoiler]

[spoiler]Future star[/spoiler]

[spoiler]Trippy[/spoiler]

[spoiler]Movie flips[/spoiler]

[spoiler]Meaning changes[/spoiler]

[spoiler]Like what movie I've seen before?[/spoiler]

[spoiler]Coming of age?  Mother/daughter conflict?[/spoiler]

[spoiler]Unique[/spoiler]

[spoiler]New dynamic at the end[/spoiler]

[spoiler]Why was the mother chosen?[/spoiler]

[spoiler]What does the cat mean?[/spoiler]

[spoiler]Repair vs. exploit[/spoiler]

[spoiler]Wow can she act[/spoiler]

[spoiler]Movie flipped again[/spoiler]

[spoiler]Lord of the flies[/spoiler]

[spoiler]Atristry vs. Talent vs. Inspiration[/spoiler]

[spoiler]Exploitation[/spoiler]

[spoiler]Black mirror / unique[/spoiler]