November 24, 2004

Anthony Minghella

On Monday I commented on two of the actors in Mr. Minghella's last major film - Jude Law and Philip Seymour Hoffman. But I've also been wondering something about Mr. Minghella that maybe some of the rest of you have some thoughts on. What is it about his films that make them extremely well-crafted, but at the same time not very enjoyable? I'm thinking of The English Patient (which was fashionable to dislike even before the Seinfeld episode mocking it), The Talented Mr. Ripley and Cold Mountain. Personally, I think all were beautifully made, and I quite enjoyed the first two - but there is something about them that seems very ... well, what? Is it cold? Distant? Harsh? Depressing? Is it that there are problems with the endings (at least with the last two)? Why aren't these films liked more?

Posted by armand at November 24, 2004 11:27 AM | TrackBack | Posted to Movies


Comments

i liked and enjoyed Ripley, though it did have a cool sensibility. haven't seen the other two, and don't have much desire to do so.

Posted by: joshua at November 24, 2004 12:19 PM | PERMALINK

On Ripley, I agree with you. And I think The English Patient is well worth giving a try (the book's not bad either).

Posted by: Armand at November 24, 2004 03:24 PM | PERMALINK

I really disliked the Englsh Patient. Theonly storyline I was interested in was between the nurse and the sikh. As far as Ralph Fiennes character, I just kept thinking, "oh would you die already?!" I didn't think cold, distant or depressing was the problem with that movie. It was more like a soulless quality. As if there was nothing in the movie to love because the individual parts cried out too much/too often "aren't we great performances! isn't the scene of the countryside perfect!" If that makes sense to you...

Posted by: binky at November 28, 2004 04:55 PM | PERMALINK

Binky - That does make sense to me. And maybe that's part of Minghella's problem.

I think that the nurse-Sikh storyline was better in the book.

Posted by: Armand at November 29, 2004 10:38 AM | PERMALINK
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