- directed by Wong Kar Wai
After a traumatic break-up a young woman treks across America in search of answers and change, along the way she meets a host of characters looking for the same.
I'm a huge Wong Kar Wai fan, which makes reviewing this film a dicey situation. I say that because I'd like to be as unbiased as possible, but that's almost impossible in this instance. It's hard to separate myself and my experiences with his past work in relation to this film. I've been trying my best to take me out of myself for this one, if only for a moment. If I had to, I guess I'd have to say it's not a great film. It might seem very sporadic, or maybe messy? Clunky and chaotic? Something along those lines. Like some of Kar Wai's past films the story's structured in an episodic fashion. A lot of the story unfolds as a montage of images and sound, making it difficult to create any deep connections with any of the characters.
Having said all that, I do feel it's a great film. It really just depends on your history with Kar Wai's work I suppose. I'm still unsure whether or not the average moviegoer would enjoy the experience because that's not how I came in contact with the film, and so I can never have that perspective. I can only make a guess. I would hope people would enjoy it. There's a lot here for a fan of his work to enjoy, plenty of allusions and references. They're the sort of things that make the story pop. They help to make connections to people and situations you might not otherwise. Then again, I feel most of Kar Wai's films are layered with archetypes. It's almost unnecessary to linger on any one story if you've seen the story play out before... in another film, another story, another song, etc. There's still something to be had, something to connect with. I just think the experience would be more enriching if you were to work off a symbology developed by the artist in the past.
As a fan, I was very much satisfied. It really tied together and worked off the Days Of Being Wild, In The Mood For Love and 2046 "trilogy". I felt some sense of closure to that arc. It was also one of Kar Wai's more uplifting stories of romance. It was hopeful. All in all, one of the best love stories. ;)
8/10 What I believe to be a very strong romance. Something to be enjoyed if you're in the mood for love. ;)
DS333, pleased as punch.
p.s. I didn't go into the technicalities of the film because I think they're pretty self-evident given that it's a Kar Wai film. Great everything. I know there's been much said about Norah Jones' acting but I think it was good... not great, but I wouldn't chuck any tomatoes at her. Jude Law, Rachel Weisz, David Strathairn and Natalie Portman deliver stellar performances. I was worried, given that this was WKW's first english-speaking film set in a non-Asian setting, but those fears were allayed. The soundtrack was as great as any other. Despite breaking ties with his longtime Director of Photography, the cinematography was breathtaking. It was just great, top to bottom. :D
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