Based on a True Story seems to be both Polański's self-tribute and a film exercise that was planned by the great master in order to see if he is out of practice.
However, the answer to this question is disappointing. Although Polański remains a master of stage production and his montage has to be commended, his latest movie lacks truth and thrill.
In Based on a True Story, Polański gets down to a novel by Delphine De Vigan, which could be the basis for a B-class thriller produced by Hallmark. This happened several times during his career – however, his stage production talent and perversity made such adaptations more successful than it could be expected based on the value of the literary work. Unfortunately, this is not the case this time.
This half erotic, half violent relationship between the famous writer and her fan is short of mysteriousness. It is mostly due to overacting by Seigner and Eva Green – the latter using means too strong and obvious while depicting her character. In Based on a True Story, Green is captured as a femme fatale prone to histeria – extremely erotic while seducing, extremely temperamental when she reveals her other side. It would not, perhaps, be a bad thing, if it wasn't for the fact that the power of Polański's narrative is supposed to lie in ambiguity, which in the film is rendered impossible by expressionist, exaggerated roles of both actresses.
Based on a True Story makes an outwardly impression of a bold movie in which Polański focuses on the sexual power game, clash between the youth and old-age, and art beyond all limits, but there is nothing new about it. In a way, his film resembles Phantom Thread, but it is still less stylish than P.T Anderson's work.