The Phenomenon’s Anticipation
The release of Fifty Shades Freed in 2018 came with intense cultural significance, extending to all corners of the world. The fanfiction that began as a Twilight spin-off book had reached document publication volumes and even a multi-billion dollar movie franchise. The praise that came with the final chapter of the book was not soley because of the steamy romance book that was released, but also because it was dubbed the ‘end of the journey.’ Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele’s romantic tension was something that captivated many, and the audience wanted to see how it played on-screen.
Curiosity came with a sense of longing, especially in India. The movie came with a lot of controversy, especially with the multiple angles surrounding the plot, where many wanted to see how the culture would influence the story. The book was not simply a novel that captured the posh breeze of the Western side of the world. Instead, it was something that offered an experience to the readers, especially those that were submerged in the world of books and movies at the same time.
A Marriage Set Against the Darkness
The moment ‘Fifty Shades Freed’ starts, we see both Christian and Anastasia, played by Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan respectively, all dressed and ready for their wedding. True to Hidden, the main focus is on the couple’s new life, which, with plenty of all-inclusive exotic vacations, energetic lovemaking, and a little bit of promise, can certainly be summed up to a ‘happily ever after’ ending, barring a few tasers. But of course, only a few moments of peace are ever captured on love stories built on possessiveness and surrender.
Right from the beginning, we see our protagonists, especially Anastasia, being put through a series of dangerous adventures which, because of their physical and mental intensity, can only be the work of a Jack Hyde, a bush-leaguer from her office, played by Eric Johnson. In his endless strong-willed fixation with Anastasia and an unrecognizable grudge towards Christian, Jack also performs the third act of the ‘romantic thriller’ genre, nurturing the love side of the equation with the perils of life, and blurring the division. In the story, Jack, along with Christian, also gives birth to the constant shield all men seem to think is necessary to wield, all the while turning Anastasia into the template of every modern independent lady.
Equally, the movie looks at the couple’s adjustment to life after marriage. For Christian, jealousy and the need for control driven by trauma comes into conflict with Anastasia’s evolution into someone who will no longer live life as a doormat. She embraces the couple’s private power dynamics, but this is only one aspect of a much larger journey where she learns to articulate and stand for herself, no only the relationship but also in broader personal and professional spheres. After years of turbulence, the movie ends on a renewed note with the couple embracing the birth of their child, a sign of a new chapter in their life.
The Balancing Act of Dakota Johnson
For Dakota Johnson, the casting of Anastasia Steele came with many contradictions. This was an opportunity for a daughter of Hollywood, along with the daughter of Melanie and Don, to transition into the public eye. This, however, came with a lot of scrutiny that the people did not have kind words for. The entire trilogy was an attempt to limit Anastasia, but Johnson always emphasized that the criticism came from a lacking perspective of the character.
In the latest installment of the trilogy, Johnson had, perhaps, the hardest undertaking of all, which was to construct Anastasia’s evolution with believability. Johnson devoted herself in trying to showcase all the minute changes in apperance from a shy, awkward graduate in Fifty Shades of Grey to a Freed confident, assertive woman about town by trying to sculpt tone, posture, and gaze. It was reported that from the very start, she had to somewhere negotiate her own sense of ease, given the franchise’s intimate scenes, which along with the resistance had to correspond to Anastasia’s own journey toward the assertion of boundaries and control.
Jamie Dornan’s Struggle With
On the other hand, Jamie Dornan had a new different struggle. Jamie Dornan, now known from movies, had then been a model and had played a role in The Fall, and so, was walking in to a role that was almost impossible to fill. Christian Grey was a fantasy figure of wealth, power and erotic intrigue and so, for almost every reader of the books, background, and Dornan was a figure that very much was adored. It is known that Dornan’s off screen personality was quite different and so, a soft spoken man most of the time, and so he did tend to have very little of himself for the role of Christian’s domineering persona.
As the third movie was being made, Dornan seemed to relax his rigid approach to the character. He started to soften Christian’s ‘edges’ by incorporating more vulnerable moments, especially the moments when he had to embrace fatherhood or was fearful of losing Anastasia. Dornan had to deal with the fame and being typecast with the franchise. At the same time, he was trying to diversify his roles as an actor to showcase his versatility. Christian Grey’s character was caught between the actor and the role, a detached projection of a man and the weakness he hides, and it almost seemed to be the reality of Dornan.
The Film That Split Opinion.
From the point of view of cinematography, Fifty Shades Freed was a flop. A number of critics just branded it boring and self indulgent. Still, it resonates with the target audience. The lush production, with its sprawling mansions, exotic landscapes, and sleek cars, has provided the fantasy element the fans have been longing for since the first film. The unapologetic tradition of crafting sultry chart-toppers was no exception and the soundtrack, alongside other moments, elevated key segments of the film, allowing it to carve its unique mark on pop culture.
The subplot featuring Jack Hyde is a thriller element that did not hit the mark. Some people advanced the notion that the film did not seem to have enough faith in the relationship drama to drive the narrative to the finish line. On the other hand, those people who are fans appreciated the way the additional drama layered the stakes, tension, and the subsequent resolution.
Triangles of Tension
Famed author, E. L. James, wielded immense control over the way each of her novels was brought to the screen, facilitating the many association films. Although James was still involved in the final installment, stories of discomfort from previously commenced shoots, however, remained. Like the other films in the series, James Freed had his controversies. James was never credited with any of the screenplays. By then, most rumors about the author creatively arguing with filmmakers had ceased. It however, did in no way, erase the discomfort stories. Dakota Johnson personally disclosed that the shooting of the intimate scenes was with Jamie Dornan, had required quite a bit of negotiating and trust. Props were in place, as was choreography, all of which simplified the scene to a an a romantic, on screen, portrayal.
One of the most interesting secrets is the extent to which additional photography was done to change the film’s tone—especially balancing the increased suspense of the thriller with the romantic resolution fans fantasized about. The couples’ montage, which reportedly showcases their milestones, was added to the film long in production to provide the sense of closure the audience was dying for.
A Franchise That Had Its Afterglow
Foe the fans, finishing the books and attending the midnight screenings was an era in itself. The debates about fantasy versus reality came to an end the minute the credits rolled for Fifty Shades Freed. For the couple, Dakota Johnson and Jamie, the ending marked the start of a new embrace. The couple fully embraced the changes, despite the many ways it sought to define them.
Even though the film could not manage to quiet the critics, it did give the audience verity. The audience came in for the drama, the indulgence, and the bittersweet romance and that is exactly what they left with. The film served as a final farewell, for what many consider to be the most polarizing couple in today’s cinematic world.
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