"A Big Bold Beautiful Journey" Opens New Doors

Doors can be tricky.

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey arrived through the doors and into theaters in 2025. David and Sarah meet at a mutual friend’s wedding. As they bond, they open doors to important moments in their past. Can they make a relationship work?

Doors play an interesting role in our lives. There are the ones we walk through every day, and then there’s the metaphorical doors to our past, important moments, and beyond. While A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is a bold and unique film, it’s redundant in its message.

Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie play David and Sarah, who are trying to see if they’re meant to be in a relationship. They reach deep into their characters’ personal lives. Each is running from demons, only to learn that they must accept past mistakes and keep moving forward. They do a good job with their characters, but I didn’t feel much chemistry.

Supporting roles credit Jennifer Grant, Hamish Linklater, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Kevin Kline, Jodie Turner-Smith, Lucy Thomas, and an ensemble playing as different people associated with David and Sarah’s pasts.

Each door leads to another prominent moment in the characters’ pasts: a high school auditorium, a museum, and a childhood home. The film is a metaphorical message about what doors we’re willing to open in new relationships. What secrets or personal matters do you want to avoid?

I related to Sarah’s story the most about missing out on a significant passing. Similar to the characters, it would be interesting to open a door and see how the moment would have transpired if you were there. Everyone has ‘what if’ doors.

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey was directed by Kogonada, who directed Columbus (2017), an understated and thought-provoking film about life. As a first in his career, he didn’t write the film’s script. He was so captivated that he signed on as director.

His direction for this movie soars with unique creative ideas. Kogonada’s main goal was for audiences to avoid questioning this world. He took inspiration from anime director Hayao Miyazaki.

In some ways, this is a road trip film. David and Sarah travel through a lush landscape to different doors, sitting in fields or on the road. Cinematographer Benjamin Loeb creates a strong use of magical realism with everyday culture.

The message was my favorite part, but Kogonada opens too many doors. The technique of walking through doors is a powerful device at first, but then it becomes redundant. We could have spent a shorter duration in each of these memories. David’s school play was one of my favorite scenes, but the scene could have been shorter.

Speaking of which, apparently, Farrell and Robbie’s favorite scene was cut, and that was a dance. According to the actors, it reflected their characters’ journeys. I would have liked to have seen this.

Certain elements and character actions could have been explained more. Granted, it’s a fantasy. Exposition would have ruined the story’s mystery, but the movie dives into the story head-on.

If A Big Bold Beautiful Journey trimmed a few doors, the message would have been more impactful. The film is therapeutic for anyone who is trying to move on from the past. Any kind of relationship is tough. Being your true self is the most important.

Happiness is an important topic, especially now. This film reminded me of Happiness for Beginners (2023), a film that also takes a unique approach to what being happy means.

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is a sweet film that’s worth seeing in theaters. Don’t think too hard when seeing it. We don’t have enough lighthearted movies like these.