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mrcordel
Reviews
Malèna (2000)
Beautiful
The film is about a young man growing up during WWII Italy - he becomes infatuated with Malena - the most beautiful woman in the small town they live in - who is waiting for her soldier husband to return to her. Yet Malena's looks create spite and jealousy amongst the townsfolk - and hard times for this lonely young woman. The story is really about Renato - how he matures while watching Malena. Indeed we don't really know that much about Malena or her motivation - in the end there are a lot of unanswered questions about what she may or may not have done. To paraphrase Renato - a lot happened back then.
This film is the cinematic equivalent of comfort food, warm and delicious. It's hard not to feel about Monica Bellucci the way the boy does after watching this film. I know I do! She is a real old-style cinema goddess. It looks wonderful - as does she. Plenty of melodrama - although you get to see the way the boy's infatuation turns into a desire to protect Malena and help her, instead of remaining a simple crush. The plot is slight and isn't as good as Cinema Paradiso but is still captivating and touching. The film is warm and full of life. There are plenty of well integrated fantasy scenes which are a treat to watch. Overall -A story of unrequited love - the only true love.
Lost in Translation (2003)
Indifferent
I try to understand why this film is so trumpeted yet a lot of the points raised as to why this film is sublime are simply untrue: They say it's funny- well no it isn't - there are very few jokes or particularly humorous moments in the film and certainly if you are a fan of Murray don't expect the usual ream of wisecracks. It has no plot and very little happens, Tokyo as a backdrop never really integrates with the characters and they seem condescending to the Japanese and their "Engrish" (how well can these Americans speak Japanese?). The supporting characters are caricatures with little depth (Johansson's screen husband is often described in reviews as flippant or self obsessed but there's little actual screen evidence for this or the motivation of any characters but the two leads). The central performances are fantastic but the story is so slow burning with so little happening that I failed to care at all. The film seemed vague, insubstantial and to be honest, dull.
Jersey Girl (2004)
Sigh...
SPOILERS
Awful in every way with wooden performances and dialogue and a plot that seems more appropriate to a daytime serial. It also makes little sense: if Affleck's character is fired from his high profile job, would he really end up working with his father (of all people) on municipal roads? Or would he get a lower-paying white collar job? And did you see the set for the daughter's version of Sweeney Todd? Did she have movie set designers build that or something? (oh right yes she did).
It isn't funny, as usual Affleck is leaden and it comes with a "who cares?" storyline. Charmless.