A look at gender fluidity
“Please Baby Please” owes much to “West Side Story,” “A Clockwork Orange” and “Scorpio Rising,” Kenneth Anger’s homage to leather-clad bikers. It deals with gender identity, masculinity, homoeroticism, and idealism.<br /><br />Arthur (Harry Melling) and Suze (Andrea Riseborough) are a 1950s intellectual couple living in a dangerous neighborhood on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. One night, they witness a brutal attack by a delinquent gang. Frozen in place, they are nonetheless excited by the gang leader, Teddy (Karl Glusman), who resembles Marlon Brando and adopts the actor’s mannerisms and style, including the leather jacket and hat he wore in “The Wild One.” Teddy’s criminality and muscularity excite both Arthur and Suze in different ways.<br /><br />Suze is unsatisfied with her timid, nonconfrontational husband. Arthur is aroused by Teddy’s masculine swagger. The encounter alters the couple’s relationship and leads them to wonder about the traditional male and female roles they have followed as a matter of course. Most of the movie centers on their  sudden questioning of gender roles through intense conversations and physical encounters.<br /><br />In a scene immediately after the attack, Arthur and Suze are among friends, discussing the incident in philosophic terms. The dialogue has an authentic ring, as these bohemian types sit around casually commenting on what the encounter has revealed. Rather than empathizing with Arthur and Suze over a situation that could have ended badly for them, their friends debate gender roles. Feeling guilty and defensive, Arthur says, “I won’t be terrorized into acting like a savage just because I’m a male.” A discussion of masculinity and what that means follows.<br /><br />As the film progresses, it cuts to a number of fantasy sequences featuring Arthur and Suze. Teddy, whose image lingers for both of them, figures prominently in these scenes. With blue-filtered lighting and smoky sets, semi-erotic visions come to life as sensual music plays on the soundtrack.<br /><br />The contrast of personalities is fascinating, as Riseborough’s Suze transforms from a dutiful wife and companion to a nearly feral, aggressive woman who asserts herself with frightening intensity. Meanwhile, Arthur can’t get the image of Teddy out of his mind. From the outset, director Amanda Kramer blends machismo with gracefulness as the gang — the Young Gents — make their way down a dark street, occasionally performing balletic movements. But unlike the Jets and Sharks in “West Side Story,” their main concern isn’t turf. It’s preening and asserting their masculinity through violence.<br /><br />The movie makes observations but doesn’t draw conclusions. Maybe that’s the point — that femininity and masculinity are not simple concepts, but extremely complex. In an interesting cameo, Demi Moore appears as Maureen, a glam neighbor who refuses to be a mere wife. The look of the film is integral to its impact. Hair, make-up, costuming, and photography contribute to a unique 50s — one conjured by a dream sensibility.<br /><br />Director Kramer has created a bizarre version of a 50s milieu. In addition to fantasy sequences, there are musical interludes and assorted subplots. Dialogue is sylized. The script, by Kramer and Noel David Taylor, tends to be sluggish and repetitive, with pace suffering. Though the film runs only 96 minutes, there’s room for some judicious editing.<br /><br />The best thing about “Please Baby Please” is Riseborough’s performance. We see her change, first in small ways, but later more dramatically. She contorts her face and alters her voice into something more at home in a horror film. Suze’s primal scream is her way of showing how gender is not merely biological, but a determined state of mind.<br /><br />Bonus materials on the unrated, region-free Blu-ray include an audio commentary, cast & crew Q & A, short films, character teasers, and trailer.<br /><br />“Please Baby Please” has its fascinating moments but is very light on plot. More a series of episodes in Arthur and Suze’s exploration of gender fluidity, it draws us in as voyeurs rather than as people truly interested in the characters.
The movie title "Please Baby Please," available on Movies & TV, has received an average rating of 3.8 from 19 reviewers. 
It features elements such as [], and it is priced at $19.78.

This title falls under the categories of Movies & TV, Featured Categories, Blu-ray and Drama. 
The additional details include the following in key-value format :
 {"Genre": "Gay & Lesbian, Drama", "Format": "Subtitled", "Contributor": "Moore, Demi, Sinclair, Jaz, Riseborough, Andrea, Glusman, Karl, Kramer, Amanda, Melling, Harry, Torres, Alisa, Choi, Jake, Saleh, Karim, Simpkins, Ryan, Escola, ColeMoore, Demi, Sinclair, Jaz, Riseborough, Andrea, Glusman, Karl, Kramer, Amanda, Melling, Harry, Torres, Alisa, Choi, Jake, Saleh, Karim, Simpkins, Ryan, Escola, Cole   See more", "Language": "English", "MPAA rating": "NR (Not Rated)", "Package Dimensions": "6.77 x 5.35 x 0.63 inches; 2.33 Ounces", "Director": "Kramer, Amanda", "Media Format": "Subtitled", "Release date": "June 27, 2023", "Actors": "Riseborough, Andrea, Melling, Harry, Moore, Demi, Glusman, Karl, Simpkins, Ryan", "Studio": "Music Box Selects", "Number of discs": "1"}

Here is a brief synopsis of the title : In the Lower East Side of the '50s, young couple Suze (Andrea Riseborough) and Arthur (Harry Melling) happened on the neighborhood greaser gang known as the Young Gents during a homicidal beating. They'd find themselves in the grip of irresistible attraction-she to the hoods' violent lifestyle, and he to their charismatic alpha Teddy (Karl Glusman). Andrea Kramer's stylized, gender-fluid stunner also stars Ryan Simpkins, Jake Choi, Cole Escola, and Demi Moore. 95 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English; Subtitles: English (SDH) audio commentary; featurettes; deleted scenes; isolated music score; theatrical trailer; more..