|
|
Posted by Temsonic on 02/14/06 19:26
"Gunther Gloop" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:45c1koF5ue0oU1@individual.net...
> To my shame, it was only today that I saw A Very Long Engagement for the
> first time.
> It definitely hasn't had anywhere near as much credit as it deserves.
>
> I wasn't crazy about Amelie to be honest, but City of Lost Children is one
> of my favourites of all time. Most people seem to prefer Delicatessen -and
> I agree that is lovely in lots of ways too.
>
> But anyway, A Very Long Engagement for me is possibly the greatest World
> War I movie ever. It doesn't dwell on the day-to-day action (or lack of
> it) in the trenches, but instead deals with how people slowly and
> inevitably continued to live and exist following that war.
> Still, it's not depressing stuff. Very funny in places, in fact.
>
> Looks beautiful, as to be expected.
> The movie can be quite confusing at times, though, and the subtitles on
> the version I saw (2-disc R2) are quite fast, adding to the confusion. The
> story is complex, with lots of names and (for me) similar-type faces cast
> about all over the place.
>
> This made it all the harder to fully appreciate the look and sound of the
> movie, but I think it also shows how confusing and disorientating it must
> have been for people at that time to find answers to their own questions
> of exactly what happened the men who never returned... (I mean, not that
> they had to read quick subtitles, but that the subtitles here increase the
> sense of confusion -not always in a bad way).
>
> Anyway... just wanted to say... If you haven't already... go see it now.
>
> -Kevin.
I felt the same way after the first time I saw it in the cinema. I knew it
was excellent but still felt very confused by exactly who was doing what to
who at certain points in the film. I strongly recommend a second watch, as
when I saw it again on DVD I was already familiar with certain characters
and plot points and it all makes a lot more sense.
E.g. in the opening scene where the soldiers are being marched through the
trench and the narrator introduces them all, it's far clearer who's who and
what their relationships to each other are. Also things like the subplots re
Jodie Foster and the Tina Lombardi character make a lot more sense.
It is a stunningly photographed film, and quite fittingly was nominated for
Oscars in cinematography and art direction. Though lets be clear about this,
it features a very nice shot of Audrey Tautou's arse, and I can think of no
further reason why this film shouldn't be in everyone's collection :D
Navigation:
[Reply to this message]
|