September 7, 2012 in GENRES
THE WORDS
RYAN: This is the new romantic drama with Bradley Cooper and Zoe Saldana; Jeremy Irons, Dennis Quaid and Olivia Wilde. Oh, and Ben Barnes!
KIM: I was a little underwhelmed by it. I’m not sure what to make about the ending.
RYAN: Me too. It’s left up to interpretation, which I sometimes enjoy in a movie; but this time there’s really no clear indication on one way or the other and I’m actually irritated by it.
KIM: Yeah I think we both had different ideas of what happened at the end.
RYAN: And obviously I don’t believe in spoilers so we can’t be specific in this review but suffice it to say it’s a disappointing ending. And the film isn’t even clear on who’s who, which doesn’t make sense out of context, but I’m still noting.
KIM: Let’s just say we’re not sure on what is fact or what is fiction within the confines of the story in this film.
RYAN: Exactly. That being said, I was really enjoying the movie until the ending killed it for me. Tonally, it’s like a Woody Allen minus the quirkiness. It’s a serious film and New York and Paris look beautiful. But it didn’t really tug at me. Compared to a movie like The Notebook, this one doesn’t grab you emotionally.
KIM: It’s not a tearjerker. The performances were great but you’re right, I didn’t feel the love story. I wasn’t bored but I expected to feel more.
RYAN: I wasn’t bored either and it’s a pretty movie. The narration is brilliant in how it goes back and forth in time. Two different narrators of two different times and yet never confusing that way. That part of the story unfolds expertly.
KIM: It is a story within a story within a story within a story. The pieces all fit but I was thrown by the trailer. I thought there would be more suspense. The commercials hinted that there might be something more threatening happening… or like it was a thriller but it’s really not.
RYAN: Everyone looked really great. Zoe is scary skinny. Bradley looks good. And whoa! That old age makeup job on Jeremy Irons… intense!
KIM: They definitely aged him a lot. And who doesn’t love Bradley Cooper’s baby blues?
RYAN: He has crazy gorgeous eyes. Ben Barnes I just love.
KIM: I recognized him.
RYAN: He’s Prince Caspian and he was in Stardust.
KIM: His performance was very good. I imagine some people might tear up during this.
RYAN: I don’t know. I found it a little soulless. I wonder.
— BOTTOM LINE —
KIM: It’s beautifully done but I went in with pretty high hopes because of the trailer and the cast and those hopes were not met.
RYAN: The score was great. It’s rich on story and slow moving but interesting. Great performances, costumes, Paris, New York… It just says something when you don’t connect with it emotionally. It makes you really appreciate that when you do connect in other movies.
— RATING —