raymond-106 Reviews

Betty Blue (1986)

Brilliant entertainment

[8/10 · 2 November 2011]

A brilliant film. I remember it well, I saw the original in the 1980's and how could I forget it? This Director's cut is even better. Unabridged films are sometimes long and tedious.. Not this one. It is brilliant from beginning to end. It's a comedy drama with an unexpected twist at the end. I love originality in films,. This film has many original ideas which constantly entertain. The mood is definitely French and at times you may feel some of the actions are excessively dramatic. But wait. All is revealed in the end.

Zorg is a handyman who does odd jobs in exchange for a rent free shack. When Betty walks into his life he is overwhelmed and his life is changed forever. Zorg is an easy target for who would agree to painting 500 shacks in exchange for free rent? Betty is more practical, a free spirit who is easily upset. These two characters carry the film although the whole cast is excellent.

The sex scenes and full frontal nudity are naturally portrayed with no hint of embarrassment. Zorg it seems is genuinely in love with Betty and like so many young couples dream about the future when they will have a place of their own and live happily ever after..

The photography in this film is magnificent. Much of the camera work relies on splashes of lighting which pervades the early comedy scenes. The musical score is simple and repetitive. Not easy to forget.

Early in the story Betty discovers that in his spare time Zorg is writing an epic. She demands he has it published. The rest of the film relates to their somewhat futile attempts There is a horrifying moment in the film when tragedy takes over. It's one of many scenes where the action is excessive.

Therein lies a secret. As one reviewer pointed out, what we have been watching is the published story of Zorg's nocturnal writing efforts, a figment of his imagination. It seems that when you lead an uneventful life, a bit of imagination can work wonders.

Black Water (2007)

One terrifying incident

[7/10 · 26 June 2010]

To laugh this off as another silly horror film is out of the question. The events depicted in the film have happened and still do happen in tropical Australia. I can remember an American girl enjoying herself under a waterfall before she was snatched by a crocodile. On another occasion a guy thought he'd have a midnight swim after celebrating with friends. He dived in and was never seen again. For me the most frightening aspect of those huge crocodiles are their gigantic jaws.

The writers and directors did a great job with "Black Water" balancing scenes of action with scenes of suspense. My eyes were riveted to the shadowy surface of the mangrove swamps expecting at any moment for the surface to break. It was so tense that the sudden flutter of a sea bird almost sent me through the ceiling. The rumbling music was just right too, rising in intensity when danger was imminent.

Climbing a tree to escape a crocodile is not unusual. The big problem is when is it safe to leave. In the film after an outboard is overturned three of the party manage to climb a tree. There are two options. Stay in the tree and wait to be picked up or strive to reach the upturned boat and hopefully put it into service. They choose the latter with fatal consequences.

The two girls alone now attempt to swim to the boat. With the sunlight dancing on the water and the music rumbling away, there are some close encounters with the crocodile. Battered and bleeding the girls seek refuge in another tree. One of them dies through loss of blood. The other manages to get the boat afloat.

One question remains. Did they make the right decision? Should they have stayed in the tree? In such a remote place could there be others in the vicinity who could save them? In the film another boat load of people out of earshot does in fact pass that way, but the chilling screams of the girls are never heard.

I liked this movie. It was tense and exciting. Recommended.

A Walk to Remember (2002)

Love is a many splendored thing

[7/10 · 13 June 2010]

I have always believed that our characters and our lives are fashioned by those we love and associate with. Perhaps subconsciously we want to be like them, This film is based on a rather sweet story of a teenager with no particular beliefs who falls in love with a girl of gentle nature and strong Christian beliefs Her father a minister of religion restricts her social activity informing her that when a young man gives a present he expects something in return. Despite her father's disapproval, they continue to see each other and their love blossoms.

Quite unexpectedly the girl is struck with cancer and their happy world is turned upside down. The whole tempo and mood changes and the actors are called upon to express these new feelings. The two leads give creditable performances The rebellious young man becomes thoughtful, kind and caring; the girl calm and courageous awaiting some kind of miracle. There are some touching moments towards the end of the film. The girl rallies sufficiently and the two are wed, but shortly afterward collapses and dies. Such a heart breaking incident..

Then follows my favourite line. The young man is sitting with his father-in-law and quietly says "She always prayed for a miracle".. After a pause her father says "You were that miracle".

This is not an award-winning film The acting on the whole was well done although I did have trouble with the lack of clarity of the mumbling voices. I think sub-titles were required. I have to say I preferred "Love Story" which has a similar theme and a great sound track.

Samson & Delilah (II) (2009)

Love in a vast and distant land

[7/10 · 12 June 2010]

With a biblical title like this one might come to expect a film of action and excitement. On the contrary it goes at a rather slow pace with very little dialogue and it's set in the middle of Australia where the land is empty and seems to spread out in all directions forever. Every day is the same ending with a sunset all red and gold. Then the black curtain of night descends and the stars come out.

The characters in this story are Samson an aboriginal teenager and Delilah an aboriginal girl of similar age living with her aged Granny. The two young characters are well cast. They are inexperienced actors but under good direction they deliver well. The best actor is Granny an old aboriginal woman with the most infectious chuckle. She teaches Delilah the ancient art of dot painting in the hope of selling them to tourists in Alice Springs.The film makers create a Samson who is a part of the land in which he somehow survives. Wirh no job, few friends, he leads an empty life with little hope for the future. His escape is petrol sniffing and listening to western music and admiring Delilah at a distance..

When Granny dies, Samson and Delilah go walkabout to Alice Springs camping under a railway bridge. In a typical aboriginal custom they share what little tinned food they have with a stranger. He rebukes them for their petrol sniffing saying it will damage their f***ing brains. This scene does not ring true.

The couple wander about in a dazed manner trying to sell paintings. Delilah is knocked down by a car and Samson staggers on back to the campsite unaware of the accident.

I thought that Delilah was killed. This was not made clear. The next scene shows her dot painting and care free and looking up into Samson's eyes. A very sudden change in mood I thought from their earlier behaviour. I really felt that eventually they would both die like Romeo and Juliet. But no,the film makers decided to finish with a ray of hope, however slim. Yhe film has a certain magic about it which lingers after the credits roll.

Nights in Rodanthe (2008)

Love will find a way

[7/10 · 6 June 2010]

First of all this is a film that women will enjoy. For me it was not as interesting as THE NOTEBOOK or UNFAITFUL both of which were more believable.

There are two main characters in this story. Adrienne a busy housewife and mother(Diane Lane) and Paul a surgeon (Richard Gere). They give splendid performances and are on the screen most of the time. Most of the other characters are bit parts.

Adrienne's friend Jean (Viola Davis) is the only character that provides any kind of comedy relief. Most of the characters have shattered relationships.

Paul has a son Jack also a doctor but working under primitive hospital conditions. Paul is on his way to help Jack and stays overnight in a beach hotel where Adrienne is the relieving manager for her good friend Jean.

That night a hurricane hits the coast. Adrienne and Paul find themselves in each other's arms as the storm rages and the shutters bang against the windows. It seemed like a good excuse to show their true feelings. Paul admires Adrienne for the intense love she has for her children.

There is a scene in the film that will move many when a local Torrelson family blame Paul for the death of Mrs. Torrelson who collapsed under anaesthesia. Paul answers with statistics but Adrienne gives him a little lesson on sympathy.

Paul is at his son's hospital for a long time. Adrienne can hardy wait for his return. Then one night there is a knock at the hotel's door. She dashes to open it...........

There are numerous messages in this film about human relations. We are told there are different kinds of love. We can learn from each other and through love we can make amends for past behaviour. The film does not preach. Sincerity is the key.

Stranger Than Fiction (2006)

Mr. Crick and Mr. Dick solve a nasty problem

[8/10 · 4 June 2010]

It's refreshing to watch an original story played out by a bunch of fine actors. It's pure fantasy but so intriguing I guarantee you will wonder where the story will take you next.

It concerns Harold Crick (Will Ferrell) who really has a problem. He's an uninspiring kind of fellow who continually hears a voice in his head that is repeating the words of a story. Not only that…Harold is the main character. This is really disturbing for Harold Crick (and rather amusing for us)so off he goes to Mr. Dick a psycho-analyst (Dustin Hoffman)for some specialist advice.

Mr. Crick's main worry is the final chapter of the story. Does it end in his death? There is only one thing to do…find the author Karen Eiffel who is completing the book(Emma Thompson)and make sure she doesn't write a tragic ending!

It's a light-hearted comedy that is bound to please.

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

A couple of scenes to be proud of.

[8/10 · 3 June 2010]

The first big scene and the final scene are quite remarkable and are not to be missed. You will lose count on the number of deaths but that's the Tarantino style. Hold tight when you see a group of Jews hiding in a cellar. Grit your teeth when they are peppered with bullets from above. Rejoice when you see a young girl escaping from the Nazis. Her day of revenge will come.

The girl grows up awaiting that special moment. When her aunt and uncle are murdered, the big cinema in town is left for her to manage. The high ranking Nazi soldiers plan a picture evening when films of past victories are to be screened. During the show the girl and her assistant projectionist set fire to old stocks of cellulose nitrate films. All exits are locked. The time has come. Now we see one of the great scenes in cinema history.

Brad Pitt plays the role of an American soldier bent on killing as many Nazis as possible and scalping them to instill fear into the enemy, His murderous trainees leap to the task. Revenge is sweet. Brad Pitt's adopted accent is both annoying and irritating I think he's wrongly cast.

This film keeps reminding us of the past horrors in WW2, difficult to forget, difficult to forgive. The scenes depicted are not exaggerated. Such atrocities happened. You may wish to look away from some scenes. There are some very tense moments. However, if by some chance you want a short nap choose the middle part of the film when interest wanes.

The Book of Revelation (2006)

An unusual slant on a rape theme

[7/10 · 26 March 2010]

It's not a biblical epic as the title might suggest but a sadistic drama of rape and revenge.

Daniel (Tom Long) is rehearsing some complicated dance moves under the direction of his choreographer Isobel (Greta Scacchi). It's a violent and sexy routine as he leaps air borne swinging through the air at the end of a rope. Isobel is not 100 per cent pleased as she feels he lacks the required deep inner feeling for the role..

With the rehearsal over, Daniel's partner wants a cigarette so Daniel dashes off to buy her a packet. He doesn't come back. Days and days pass, but still no Daniel. A private investigator is engaged to search for him.

I suppose the revelation is that he was kidnapped by three women heavily cloaked in monks' robes but further details are sadly missing. They pin him down to the floor of a disused warehouse, each wrist shackled to the floor, each ankle shackled in the same way so when stripped of his clothes he looks like a large letter X. The black cloaked women hover about his naked body like crows over a human carcase raping him orally and anally as he screams to be released. "He stinks" says one "wash him" And then we see the erotic bathing of his face and body. This is really strong stuff for public viewing. But there is more to come. His hands are released on the promise he will masturbate himself so that the lascivious women can watch with glee the changing expressions on his face.

After 12 days they are done with him and he is dumped blind-folded in a dusty field. Humiliated and disgusted he finds his way back to his partner. After the intensity of the earlier scenes. the film here begins to sag. Daniel clamps up and nobody else presses him for information about his recent absence.

The rest of the film is pretty much a lone search by Daniel to find the perpetrators of his ordeal. I found the scene at the police interview quite unconvincing. And where do you start when looking for a girl with a tattoo on her breast or a redhead with a glorious head of hair. And how do you know it's really the one you're after. No matter. He stalks and rapes them. In a way he's getting his own back.

Eventually he meets up with the policeman who has been searching for him. He seems to heed the policeman's advice "You've been starting at the end. You should start at the beginning". Rather odd advice if you ask me. But it does give you something to figure out as the film ends. As a matter of fact there are a lot of unanswered questions. All the same I'm glad I watched this Australian film. It's very different, though some might find it offensive.

My Life in Ruins (2009)

True happiness is often not far away

[7/10 · 19 March 2010]

First of all I think it's a clever title. I had no idea what the film was going to be about. The introduction put me immediately into a receptive mood. The story was set in Greece, a most beautiful and interesting country. Top marks to the photographer who captured it all in such an enticing way.

While documentaries thrive on good photo shots, a romantic comedy requires much much more and this film has a nice balance of the essentials to ensure some good entertainment.

The characters keep the story moving along at a reasonable pace. There's Georgia the tourist guide who's getting no satisfaction from her lousy job. There's Poupi the bus driver, a real romantic who extols the beauty of the Greek countryside. There's a motley array of tourists from many different countries who are more interested in food and drink than the classical architecture of ancient Greece. Among the bus load of tourists is a man called Irv who is a true philosopher about life in general and who sets about bringing happiness to the distraught Georgia.

If you ever dreamed of becoming a tourist guide, this is just the film to suggest you have second thoughts. What an incredible mixture of dissatisfied tourists. I'm sure you've met the likes of them in your travels.

While some reviewers might say they have seen all this before, the fact remains that the writers have captured the common atmosphere of a bus filled with complaining tourists. Exaggerated maybe, but there's more than an ounce of truth in the writing..

Apart from the tourists there is an assortment of Greek characters too. I am wondering how the Greek population feel about these crazy characters. It is probably a healthy sign that we should laugh about ourselves occasionally.

I can commend this light-hearted romantic comedy to anyone looking for an evening of relaxation. A glass of ouzo would certainly round off the experience. Cheers!

Amazon (2000)

plain awful

[4/10 · 2 March 2010]

This French film should go straight to the guillotine! It's an insult to the French film industry. But as I am a generous person I'll give it 4/10. Now don't go racing off to collect a DVD just to see why I am making such a fuss. Take my word for it.

The film opens with a stupendous waterfall. Magnificent. Just take in the sight and sound! Is this a promise of what is to follow? Sadly no. What follows is a disaster.

The film has little or no story. What action there is revolves around three people, a retired dentist seeking solitude in the jungle, a twelve year old who happened to drop in from a far away planet and an excitable woman astronomer seeking out the site where a UFO had apparently hit the earth. In the film the characters are wet most of the time due to the frequent showers or falling into the river. As a consequence the man reluctantly gives them shelter This knits together what story there is. There are frequent arguments and the women keep running away and have to be saved from the dangers of the jungle.

Nearby there is a depression in the earth no bigger than a preserving pan which attracts the attention of the astronomer who whereupon quizzes one of the local natives (who cannot understand a word of French)about the indentation in the earth. Stranger still is the fact that the girl from the distant planet speaks French fluently.

There is a band of kidnappers combing the river to see where they can make a buck or two. Eventually they kidnap the little girl and make off with her.

Belmondo in excellent bewhiskered make-up as the elderly man has not much to do and one wonders why he accepted the part in the first place. On the other hand the incidental music is very good and worthy of a much better production. The same can be said of the photography. The main fault is the choice of material. Some scenarios are best left untouched on the shelf.

You won't find many reviews of this one. I think I've told you why..

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970)

The film lacked sparkle

[6/10 · 1 March 2010]

First of all I'd like to say I'm no great lover of Barbara Steisand's work so I even surprised myself that I would want to view another of her films. Perhaps I was charmed by the title "On a clear day you can see forever" which has a certain magic about it.

I once knew a gardener who talked to his plants and we have all had odd experiences concerning a telephone call or a knock at the door or meeting a long lost friend. i suppose you would call them premonitions and quite unexplainable. So Daisy Gamble with her cigarette addiction as well was not so different from the rest of us and she had enough sense to seek psychiatric help.

Flashbacks in the film added a welcome degree of variety because for me the film lacked sparkle and at times was on the edge of boredom. At times I was wondering how much longer the film would continue because it was beginning to feel rather drawn out. In a really good film you are craving for more.

I think the songs were a really great let down. None of them was particularly catchy, a tune that would stay with you for the next few days or so. I can understand why the original Broadway production was not an outstanding success.

The actors in this film seemed somewhat tired and disinterested. As a comparison check out once more "Hello Dolly" with an enthusiastic cast and great vocals and you'll see what i mean.

Un crime (1993)

Some secrets are terrifying

[7/10 · 15 February 2010]

A taut thriller that keeps you guessing and a small cast of excellent actors is a great recipe for an absorbing night's entertainment.

Alain Delon who in his lifetime has played a multitude of characters gives a good restrained performance as a defence lawyer (Charles Dunand). His client is a strange young man with psychopathic tendencies who since the age of 12 has held a terrible secret. Now living alone in a somewhat rambling apartment with dark stairways Frédéric (Manuel Blanc ) is ever conscious of a secret which if disclosed could condemn him.

Frédéric, it is revealed, has a daily task to attend to, an important task if he wishes to retain his freedom. Thanks to his grandfather who made it all possible.

Confining himself to an upper floor of the apartment he spends time watching the comings and goings of the populace through a telescope. This peeping Tom latches on to a girl on a balcony some streets away. It is not difficult for him to seek her out.

One feels at times that all the characters are in danger particularly the lawyer to whom he reveals his devastating secret with a promise to kill him if he ever uses the evidence against him. What follows is an unimaginable revelation.

Manuel Blanc has appeared in many films. He is definitely the star here giving an interesting and somewhat creepy but compelling performance

Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)

A complicated road to love

[7/10 · 11 February 2010]

You can recognize at once why this film has such a great appeal to teenagers. Who hasn't shared such experiences while searching for a special friend? That special feeling of calling some one your own takes over your life completely.

Clifford (John Ashton ) has put away for his son Keith (Eric Stoltz) a goodly sum for his College studies, but Keith is blinded by his crush on Amanda who seems to be available to all the boys particularly the well-to-do.

One of the best and liveliest scenes in the film is the argument between Keith and his father who has discovered that his son has withdrawn the whole sum from the bank account to buy a pair of diamond earrings to impress Amanda and outdo his rivals.

Not all the scenes are so impressive and the story line lacks originality except for the "chauffeur" scene near the end which was a pretty stupid and unbelievable arrangement.

Watts played by Mary Stuart Masterson (and well done too) dotes on Keith but he is too blind to understand her feelings for him. All the mixed and misunderstood feelings require a good deal of sorting out by the characters and this is where the interest lies in the film. Will Keith wake up to himself and realize that true love is knocking at his door?

It's a pleasant little story of teenage problems which many of us will recall as a part of our own lives. That we can align with so many of the frustrations is a key to the popularity of the film.

Vantage Point (2008)

Fast and furious action

[7/10 · 27 January 2010]

It's a fast-paced drama maintained throughout and the music (so appropriate) adds to the exciting atmosphere. It's about a world breaking event…the visit of the American President to the city of Salamanca in Spain to organize a plan involving all nations of the world to put an end to terrorism. A bold plan indeed.

The thousands that gather in the square to welcome the President almost invite danger and sure enough there is an assassination attempt and a bomb blast that sends the cheering gathering into a panic-stricken mob.

Among the crowd is an American visitor with a digital camera who is constantly recording the events taking place. His recordings become an important part of the investigation which follows. Secret service agent Thomas Barnes (Dennis Quaid) acquires the camera for clues to assist in his investigation.

There are numerous flashbacks which when added together use up valuable time in the presentation of the plot. When one analyzes the film content it is quite a short film covering mainly the events in the square and a subsequent car chase to capture the terrorists. There won't be any Academy Awards for acting ability as there was none Most of the actors had to run a long way requiring athleticism rather than acting ability. The director accented the fast action all the time swamping any opportunities for some great acting.

The introduction of a little girl called Anna into the script seemed strange to me. It was almost like a sub-plot suggesting that there were still some good people among the rabble. The black American tourist offers to buy her another ice cream when he bumps her in the crowd. He feels warmly towards the little girl as he has a child of her age back home. Eventually he is responsible for saving her life from a speeding car.

The writer of the screen play was not sure how to bring the story to a satisfactory close so he chose a sentimental ending. The little girl was handed over to her distressed mother and the American made an urgent phone call back to the USA assuring his family he was coming home. It was a rather sudden ending after all the turmoil, but an ending that was written for American audiences.

I have watched the DVD twice and still find the characters somewhat confusing. The flashbacks should perhaps have helped me in deciding who were the terrorists and who were the police and who were the moles, but the repeated flashbacks did not help much.

Diabolically Yours (1967)

An intriguing tale of deceit

[6/10 · 17 January 2010]

To commit murder according to a well thought out plan and not be found out. That is the intriguing theme of this film. The perfect crime, you might say.

Madame Christiane Campo with the help of Freddie (her doctor and lover) murders her husband Georges and buries him in the garden of her sumptuous mansion. Freddie has an amnesia patient recently involved in a car accident. When the man gains consciousness he is told his name is Georges Campo and he is married to Christiane. She takes him home to her mansion and Doctor Freddie supervises his recovery.

An intriguing situation arises. On the one hand the patient now called Georges is trying to remember any aspect of his former life and on the other hand Christiane and Freddie insist that he is Christiane's husband and that his nightmares. dreams and uncertainties are a result of the accident.

The plot thickens. Georges is introduced to a home decorator who advises on changes to the mansion. Thus the decorator is a witness to the fact that Georges is still alive. The plan now is to ensure that Georges the impostor must die either through accident or suicide.

The plot is full of holes. Various devices are arranged so that Georges will meet with an accident but all fail. Even a savage dog is employed to attack him. Actually the dog's behaviour confirms for Georges that all is not as it seems.

Freddie suggests to Georges that madness is a terrible thing. Freddie makes sure there is a pistol in George's bedside drawer hoping he will take his own life.

Like most thrillers all is conveniently resolved in a final scene involving Freddie and a rather sinister Chinese servant with desires on Madame Christiane.

Alain Delon gives a creditable performance as usual and the rest of the small cast likewise. If you don't analyze the film too closely you will probably enjoy it.

It is said that crime does not pay. Having seen this film I am having second thoughts. It sure is a beautiful mansion and Christiane looks very promising too.

Transsiberian (2008)

Exciting drama on a train

[8/10 · 16 January 2010]

It has always been my wish to one day board the Trans Siberian Train and travel from Vladisvostock across the top of the world to Moscow. I have watched this film with interest. Now I have second thoughts.

Hold tight as we move off from Vladisvostock by the sea on one great adventure. To start with the police are restless about the possibility of drugs on the train. The sleeping compartments seem to be full and there is every nationality on the train.

Our story concerns Roy and Jessie a missionary couple returning home from a couple of years in China. Carlos a Spaniard (Eduardo Noriega) and his girl friend seem to latch onto the missionary couple and for no good purpose.

The first half of the film is rather uneventful. Passengers are sorting themselves out and there are indeed some suspicious looking characters. The scenery by the way is magnificent and the regular stops are an interesting feature. Top marks for the photography.

When Russian police (Ben Kingsley) board the train and start asking awkward questions the mood takes on a sinister and threatening feeling. At this point the film gathers strength and exciting things start to happen. Roy gets left behind at one stop but manages to rejoin the train later. Carlos and Jessie take a long walk through a snow bound forest to an ancient church where he attempts to rape Jessie, She escapes from his clutches and smashes his skull with a picket from a broken fence, She leaves him dead in the snow and finds her way back to the train.

Jessie now holds this terrible secret and she is terrified at the continual probing by the police who want to know the where abouts of Carlos. The police sense she is holding back information and become more demanding in their questioning. This is really good drama and one is left wondering just how much she is going to tell. In a word she is trapped..

Like most thrillers not every detail rings true, but dramatic moments are important to build interest. In one incident Jessie runs the full length of the moving train and falls through the final door hanging for her life on the back of the train. I would have thought that the door would have been locked. But no matter, I nearly jumped out of my skin when she tumbled out.

I was surprised to read so many bad comments about this film. It was quite a satisfying thriller. There were many tense moments, plenty of excitement and some exceptional photography. The murder episode so callously executed by Jessie a Christian missionary was horrifying to watch as she lost control over her emotions. Well acted, well done.

The Widow Couderc (1971)

Actors melt into the French countryside

[8/10 · 13 January 2010]

Being a tutor in French I found this film now almost 40 years old fresh and appealing.The director's hand is evident in every little detail. Two bickering families living on opposite sides of a canal with a drawbridge that had to be raised with every passing barge created the unpleasant atmosphere of harsh words and bitter remarks. It's a wonderful setting of simple pleasures like scything the grass and feeding the hens and chopping the wood and filling the lamps with kerosene. Simone Signoret as the bitter widow Couderc who claimed she had to do all the work around the place was most convincing in her role as she went about her daily chores. Even her walk to the bus showed a certain animosity. She was indeed an unhappy creature yearning for love.

How fortunate for her that Jean a handsome prison escapee(Alain Delon) happens along to lend a hand in running the farm and eventually comforts her in her bed. Jean proves to be a real handy man when he sets up an egg incubator to provide lots of chickens in the future. The incubator plays a pivotal role in the whole story. It can be said that the story began with the incubator and ended with the most tragic consequences.

As much as I loved the story the overwhelming quality of this film was the sight and sounds of the village atmosphere and how well the actors melted into the daily living. I have never lived in a French village but what I observed in this film seemed pretty authentic to me.

The plot takes a nasty turn when Jean's presence is reported to the police by a couple of the spiteful villagers. Excitement takes over as the chase to capture him runs to a thrilling climax. I did wonder though why so many police were involved in his capture. A little bit over the top, methinks, but great for a dramatic finish.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

Playing with time

[7/10 · 11 December 2009]

A philosophical look at life and death and the unstoppable element of time which plagues all our lives. While most people accept the fact that a minute after birth they are on a relentless journey towards old age, occasionally nature plays some unusual tricks on the new born. Call this story a fantasy if you will, there is many a baby born as ugly as hell yet lives to see vast improvements in the facial features. Such is the case here where a rejected child blossoms into the most handsome man and looking younger every day.

The film maker treats the subject gently making it clear that the man who is aging backwards so to speak is not without personal difficulties. After marriage to a lovely woman he continues to grow younger while she observes an increasing number of wrinkles in her pretty face. As a couple the future looks unpredictably complicated. We ask ourselves where will it all end?

In the Picture of Dorian Gray Oscar Wilde also grappled with time as an intriguing subject. An artist painted a portrait of Dorian and as the years passed the face in the picture grew old but Dorian himself seemed to remain forever young. Somehow or other he seemed to be cheating Nature. And so it is here. Benjamin Button is cheating Nature by becoming younger and younger as the years pass by.

How often have we all at some time or another during some happy moment we wish that time would stand still and that we could hang on to that moment forever.. An interesting thought. But time never stands still. It is a one way passage….forward.

What is the end point for a human being whose age is receding? A baby in arms with dementia who does not know his wife or mother? A difficult situation to be sure but the film makers accentuate the importance of love in human relationships.

The story itself is truly a fantasy but is compelling to watch. While not believing a minute of the story one is fascinated by the situations and one is left with an impossible question…..what if…..?