Match Point-Theater

Match Point (2005), Dir. Woody Allen

Ahh, Woody Allen. Can't say I'm a huge fan of his films, but I do feel obligated to watch them since I claim to be a movie devotee. I just have a hard time with the whiny nervousness he injects into every scene, every character, every word of dialogue. Nonetheless, I have enjoyed films such as Annie Hall and Manhattan (I haven't seen every film, so there may be others I have yet to enjoy). Having said that, I enjoyed Match Point. Or rather, maybe didn't enjoy, but marveled at Allen's skill in setting the tone and the stage, then sustaining it through the entirety of the next two hours.

I've never thought of Allen as a guy who is interested in suspense, but this film will keep you guessing up through the last minutes. It doesn't seem possible, and just when you think you've got it under control and know what's going to happen, things change and you don't. Kind of reminds me of my own life, which may be the whole point.

As for the plot, it seems simple enough; a married man having an affair, wondering if he should leave his wife or stay, mixed in with money, family, passion, and love. Through this setting, Allen explores a myriad of relationships, both healthy and toxic, approving and disapproving. It also raises the question of who a person can trust, but that's more of my own issues probably.

The actors turned in superb performances, with Scarlett Johanssen affecting the most Allen-esque mannerisms of nervousness and tics. Even so, her anguish and confusion is delivered in such a genuine way, without any hint of her holding back. The love interest, played by Jonathon Rhys-Meyers, also does an impeccable job of sustaining Allen's mood of suspense, never giving away what he's going to do next, or betraying what his character is actually thinking.

As a disclaimer and small side note, part of the reason this film was so resonant with me is because it seems to present my life; albeit in a much more dramatic and tragic way. The disappointment of unrequited love, betrayal of love, and a web of secrets and lies one cannot even begin to decode are themes that are so ingrained in my personal experiences, it felt as though Allen took a page from my life, added a bit of hyperbole and some English accents, and threw it up on the screen. In fact, this film will always coincide with a day of personal anguish that left me feeling like Scarlett's Nola Rice from Boulder, Colorado. Art imitating life. Go figure.

Memoirs of a Geisha-Theater

Memoirs of a Geisha (2005), Dir. Rob Marshall

I actually read the book several years ago, before all the hubbub. And it's actually a very nice book; I'd recommend it. Adapting books into movies, however, is a dangerous game, because everyone will compare them, even though they shouldn't. This is an especially difficult book to adapt because of it's rapt attention to season, custom, and fashion, describing minute details of various rituals and their meanings to near exhaustion.

So who better to direct such a complicated adaptation than a man who came into film through choreography? Personally, I never knew that was the way to go, and as soon as singers and composers start becoming film directors, I'm set. So as you might probably guess, I don't necessarily approve of the choice of Marshall for director. (Ang Lee, Jane Campion, Zhang Yimou, Wong Kar-Wai all would have been wonderful choices, and given the success of Brokeback Mountain, the studios are probably kicking themselves now)

Oh yeah, the movie. This film keeps in mind three C's: costumes, cinematography, and choreography (naturally). The casting is great, considering the biggest and most talented stars were chosen. Their abilities saved this film from being a big pile of crap, but didn't catapult it into the realm of great films. It is something that is beautiful to look at, that's for sure. Similar to Chicago, this film is full of wonderful spectacles of costume, dancing and great camera stuff. It falls pretty short on any sort of human element, which is a shame, since that's what the book is about. Yes, it's a love story. But it's also a peek into rituals and cultural customs that we Americanos are rarely exposed to.

So sure, go see it, and marvel at the colors, the costumes, and the talented acting. Try to ignore the fact the story has been drained of its most beautiful parts.

Cache-Theater

Cache (2005), Dir. Michael Haneke

I actually saw this one at Cannes, but didn't feel qualified to say anything about it since I dozed off somewhere in the middle and wasn't sure how much I'd missed. But happy times, I saw it all the way through (and learned I missed about 15 minutes).

This is the only film I have seen by Haneke, and it's austere structure is a bit misleading. There is no music, no special effects, nothing blowing up, no guns, and yet somehow, it manages to maintain a level of suspense that is very disquieting. You don't even know you're tense until you let out a deep sigh at the end.

The story revolves around an affluent Parisian couple receiving anonymous videotapes of them coming and going from their house, and each tape gets a little closer and more disturbing. We also see a complex family relationship that seems happy on the surface, but as soon as the trouble begins, we wonder exactly how happily married they are.

I wouldn't say this is a film that will amaze you with its watertight structure (you'll probably be pointing out holes in the story after it's all over), but all of that is really beside the point. Haneke isn't interested in telling you the answers, finding the culprit, or leaving you in awe of his dizzying story. What he's really seems to be focused on is the complexity and unknowability of the people closest to you, and in some cases, you are your own worst enemy. There is also the element of racial tension between French people and Algerians living in France, but it is more secondary to being haunted by your own dark sides.

If you can sit still for two hours without a high-volume soundtrack banging on your forehead, don't need explosions, and can read the subtitles, go for it. If you can't, go see The Aviator.