| Review Date: Director: Tom Tykwer Writer: Krzysztof Kieslowski, Krzysztof Piesiewicz Producers: Stefan Arndt, Maria Köpf Actors: Cate Blanchett as Philippa Paccard, Giovanni Ribisi as Filippo, Mattia Sbragia as Major Pini |
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Unfortunately for the film, its picturesque settings and its solid actors…the story itself is actually quite vapid. I didn’t buy the so-called “love” between these two characters (they also looked kind of a like a mom/son at times), the pacing was too slow (how come it takes characters 5-10 seconds to answer simple questions…c’mon, speak up already!!) and ultimately, the movie seemed more interested in flaunting its symbolism, than driving an intriguing narrative, which after the first engaging half hour, bored me something fierce. The tepid chemistry between the two leads and the logistical issues that I had with their escape from prison also gnawed at me, as well as the fact that I never truly saw or felt Blanchett’s character “falling” for Ribisi. If this is what “love” is for the art-house crowd…they can keep it! I believe in sensuality, I like to see and feel characters loving one another, falling for one another and reverberating that passion all over the screen. What’s with all this helicopter business? C’mon man…a little symbolism goes a long way but if that’s the only thing on which you’re gonna base your “love story”, you can stick it where the sun don’t shine! Of course, as per most of my reviews, I say “to each his own”, and just as THE PRINCESS AND THE WARRIOR was appreciated by many a folk (not moi), the buddy to my left hand side loved this flick, its symbolism and its artsiness…so there you go. It certainly does “look” great and Ribisi is to be commended, but at the end of the day…the film is about as predictable as they come, the love story is vacant and the characters didn’t grow on me one bit. A disappointment.