GEMINI: A Thrilling Neo-Noir About The Two Sides Of Celebrity

Every year, thousands of young hopefuls flock to Los Angeles with the hopes of making it big. Everyone seems to want the advantages of fame, but rarely do they consider the downside of it. In a city overflowing with people who want it all, Los Angeles can become a cesspool of deceit, jealousy, and…murder. When you’re famous, can you ever really feel safe when everyone wants something from you?

Gemini is an exciting neo-noir following Jill LaBeau (Lola Kirke)- a devoted Hollywood assistant looking to solve the murder of her boss and friend Heather Anderson (Zoe Kravitz). After Heather promptly decides to take a break from her career, Jill has to deal with the brutal backlash from Heather’s decision.

Writer/Director Aaron Katz‘s latest film is a gorgeous, atmospheric, fast-paced mystery set in the heart of Los Angeles. The film’s title may be mysterious on the surface, but it will all make sense as the answer reveals itself.

A Murder Mystery with an Unexpected Twist

From the beginning, Heather is tired and looking to get away from her life in the spotlight. Due to her constant lack of anonymity and many obligations, Heather feels unsafe and becomes increasingly paranoid. After some serious deliberation, she decides not to do any projects for a while. Heather’s choice ultimately screws over her agent, and a major movie project. Afraid to face the consequences, Heather leaves Jill to handle her engagements. Within the next 24 hours, Heather is murdered in cold blood – in her own home.

As Jill goes on a quest to figure out Heather’s murderer, she’s faced with a multitude of suspects from her agent Jamie (Michelle Forbes), the filmmaker of her cancelled project- Greg (Nelson Franklin), her bitter ex-boyfriend Devin (Reeve Carney), a slimy paparazzo named Stan (James Ransone), and even an obsessed fan who altered her appearance to look just like Heather. Every individual has their own motive for murdering Heather, but almost all the choices are a bit too obvious…So who really did it ?

Based on physical evidence and circumstance, Detective Edward Ahn (John Cho) believes it was Jill is the murderer. Eager to find her friend’s killer and eradicate herself as a suspect, Jill follows a series of clues to find the real culprit. Jill is known for her amazing capacity to remember things, and once the right clue hits, she figures out the case. What she discovers changes Heather’s fate.

Fame: A Very Dangerous Game that Few can Win

Gemini approaches the concept of fame in an interesting fashion. While fame definitely has its perks, there are some crosses celebrities have to bear. The film’s ending isn’t necessarily a negative one, but it leaves viewers pondering if fame is truly worth it. Throughout Gemini, Heather has to deal with the symbiotic relationship with the paparazzi, her representation, coworkers, as well as past lovers. Besides Jill and Heather’s girlfriend Tracy (Greta Lee), there is no one who seems to genuinely care about Heather’s well-being.

The one thing I noticed is that upon the announcement of Heather’s death, everyone except Jill seems to think about how it will impact them. Jamie warns Jill to issue a press release because she is worried how she will be perceived, Devin is worried about his alibi, and Greg is upset that his film is ruined. Greg (the worst of the characters) admits that he doesn’t care that Heather is dead because  she ruined the movie he had been working on for five years. This is perhaps one of the saddest parts of the film. It really makes you think about some celebrities. Many are constantly surrounded by “friends”, but how can you really decipher who is truly there for you, and not there for what you can do for them?

At this point, it’s understandable why Heather wanted to lay low for a while. While many people think that fame is something that can easily be controlled, Hollywood is ruled by binding contracts. On top of that, there are lecherous people who’s existence relies on others’ success.

Final Thoughts on Gemini

As someone who is obsessed with pretty much anything set in Los Angeles and a great mystery, Gemini gets a thumbs up from me. It’s cool, it’s clever, and the ending will leave you shocked. Zoe Kravitz is easily believable as the desirable, but vulnerable It-Girl, and Lola Kirk shines as the heroine of the story. If you get the chance, go check it out! It’s worth the view.

What did you think about Gemini’s killer plot twist? Did you expect it from the beginning?

Gemini opens in New York and LA theaters on March 30th. It will expand to select cities beginning April 6th. For more release information, you can view the IMDB page.