July 31, 2008

My Blueberry Nights

I should probably start out by saying that I really like Wong Kar Wai movies. I've never seen a bad one, and 2046 is one of my favorite films ever. So it is only in that context that the following sentence should be understood - I was disappointed. He does his usual stylish things, and he's got a highly watchable cast (I mean how can you not want to watch the likes of Strathairn, Law, and Portman?) even if he does lead some of them into questionable accents (I'm looking mostly at you, Ms. Weisz). It's a perfectly pleasant film, and on a regular scale I'd rate it, oh, a B- or something. So it's not that it's bad. It's not bad. But his films can be brilliant. And sadly it's not that either. So sadly I must add it to the long list of movies I've seen of late that have underwhelmed me - though obviously it's better than the likes of Hellboy II, and vastly superior to that pile of tedious, rotting shit that is X-Files: I Want to Believe. I really shouldn't put them in the same paragraph together.

Though I will note that it's much more a fantasy film than the latter two films, even though the latter include elves, goblins, and what I presume are non-existent surgical procedures. In the opening 15 minutes of the film we meet Jude Law. He's a reasonably successful (at least he's getting by) cafe owner in SoHo. He's nice. He's a touch romantic, but not too romantic. He's a little damaged/wise. He cooks. Not only that - he cooks cupcakes and pies. And he cooks a blueberry pie every night just for Norah Jones, and he stays up late every night just to listen to and slightly flirt with her. And yet Jones leaves him in order to take multiple menial jobs across America. And sure, I guess one could argue that in the film's world it makes sense. But a world where you you leave a loving, responsible, attentive, pie-providing Jude Law who thinks you are the bee's knees, and instead opt for no social life and working double shifts at the South's dingiest dives - either she's insane, or that's the most off-kilter fantasyland I've ever heard of.

Posted by armand at July 31, 2008 10:55 AM | TrackBack | Posted to Movies


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