The relationships begin when the boys are 15 (though the actors are clearly adults, which softens the ick factor). The narrative glosses over the inherent power imbalance and potential for psychological damage with surprising speed. Instead of a gritty exploration of abuse or manipulation, Adore presents the affairs as almost natural—a kind of logical, beautiful extension of the friends’ intense bond. The lack of societal judgment (the small town seems oddly oblivious) robs the story of tension it desperately needs.
Adore is a beautiful, frustrating, and utterly strange film. It is too melodramatic to be a serious art-house hit, yet too slow and contemplative to be a trashy thriller. For viewers willing to suspend modern ethical lens and embrace the film as a fable about obsessive love, there is a hypnotic, tragic quality to it. You will likely find yourself shouting at the screen, but you probably won’t look away. adore full movie
The film’s saving grace is its powerhouse leads. Naomi Watts (as Lil) and Robin Wright (as Roz) are completely committed. Their chemistry as lifelong friends feels authentic—you believe they have shared secrets, grief, and laughter for decades. Wright brings a grounded, steely vulnerability to Roz, a widow clinging to youth and affection. Watts, meanwhile, plays Lil with a softer, more ethereal recklessness. Their internal conflict is written on their faces, even when the script fails them. The relationships begin when the boys are 15