A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is not as delicate and sophisticated as Kogonada’s previous films and is quite heavy-handed at times, but the film is still a tender exploration of self-discovery and what it means to be content in life. 

Kogonada is a storyteller like no one else to me as he perfectly is able to explore the intricacies of identity, love, and realtionships with one another in a way many other filmmakers are unable to convey on screen. The biggest downside of A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is that the writer/director did not write the film, therefore hindering audiences of this beautiful storyteller’s delicate hand at what could have been much more effective. A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is moving and tender yet some of the dialogue is clunky and feels overdone. It’s impossible to not yearn for Kogonada as the scripter to have a softer approach with lessons that are beautiful and ask the audience to put themselves out there yet are delivered at times in a blunt manner. 

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey follows as David (Colin Farrell) and Sarah (Margot Robbie) meet at a wedding and an unsuspecting journey is presented to each of them individually and they are led back to one another. While the set-up, like any real-life romantic set-up, is quite forced and heavy-handed, the titular journey is where things become quite impactful. The film is guided along by this journey through a GPS, with a stellar voice performance from Jodie Turner-Smith, and an enchanting score from Joe Hisaishi, as both David and Sarah not only find each other but are forced to reckon with themselves. How has every decision led them to this moment? The script from Seth Reiss is unbelievably clunky at times with lines of dialogue that feel they’re spoon-feeding you the emotions Kogonada films previously eased out of you, however, once you get over the delivery, some of the moments and emotion do truly land. 

As someone who personally struggles with thoughts of, how did I get here and moving on from the if-when of it all, the scenes where each character is forced to have a conversation with figures of their past, whether it romantic partners or parents, are incredibly moving. If given the chance to talk through things without changing the outcome, what would you learn about yourself or the moment? The notion of discussing a lost moment with a loved one who is no longer here or a parent opening up to you not realizing they’re speaking with their own child, allowing for an unfiltered conversation to truly wear your heart on your sleeve but be free with your words allows for a breathtaking look at one another. There’s a freeing emotion to seeing someone so close in your life through a new lens. David and Sarah’s journey allows them to get to know one another in any typical romantic comedy setting as they’re set up and thrown into a forced bit stuck with each other, however, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey flips that switch as they each get to live through one another’s pasts together. A childhood love gone wrong, a parent passing on, these aren’t stories they tell one another, each gets to live through the moment and see this other person relive the experience. While the writing, and performances a bit, fail this beautiful premise at times, it’s still incredibly moving and a unique look at how complex it truly is to date and learn to love all of someone. 

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey has an incredibly interesting idea at the back half of the film on the idea of happiness versus content. Not to get too honest but as someone who struggles with the idea of finding an overwhelming joy or consuming happiness through the concept of love, a film marketed as a romantic journey landing on finding brief moments of happiness through a life of simply being content and holding on to those moments is an interesting take. A Big Bold Beautiful Journey being a high fantasy concept but landing on a realistic approach to romance does not have to be sweeping or consuming but just finding someone to make you content with life, and yourself, is genuinely moving.

Grade: B-

Oscars Prospects:
Likely: None
Should be Considered: Best Original Song

Release Date: September 19, 2025
Where to Watch: In Theaters