Amelie
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Movie Reviews of Amelie
Movie Review: Altruism and Amelie
Summary: 5 Stars
This film merits five stars. Altruism is the vacuum which nature abhors in human relationships; the title character confronts this dilemma with imagination and great sense of humor. At first glance, it may appear that the director has approached the interior struggles of Amelie with very broad strokes, based upon the title character's overt actions. However, the director is working on many levels and with exquisite subtlty. This gem of a movie slips messages to the viewer on many levels via the vehicle of the title character's apparently outrageous reactions to her emotional environment.Imagination is the ever-present unseen character of the piece. Unlike David Lynch, who tends to overwork some metaphors, this director's approach, while nonlinear, is nevertheless sublimely coherent in its depth of layers. The character of Amelie is engaged in a struggle to nourish her soul, while at the same time acknowledging the reality that altruism is the vacuum nature abhors in human interactions. This awareness presents challenges to Amelie in her dealings with others and also with herself.
Like the title character, the director manages this internal conflict with superb imagination and a great sense of humor. This is the story of a series of small truimphs and setbacks building to the resolution of Amelie's inerior struggle. While the journey is a wild ride that does not appeal to all tastes, the resolution is a powerful argument for life, individuality and resistance to templates imposed by society.
Amelie is a deeply meaningful, humorous, feel-good movie. The outlandish elements employed are artfully used to provide the resolution of Amelie's emotional pain resulting from the clash of her altruistic nature with the realities of the world crashing down around her. Any attempt to "tone down" these outlandish elements would have resulted in not giving Amelie's great heart and imagination the voice they deserve in proportion to the voice of the unrelenting realities of the outside world.
Amelie is the purr of the Cheshire Cat. See Amelie to reconnect with that "inner child" we hear so much about. See Amelie to give your imagination muscle a workout. Amelie is a stunning affirmation of the proactive approach in embracing life!
Movie Review: A movie for people who love movies...
Summary: 5 Stars
...And just about everyone else, too. Whatever baggage you may or may not have concerning foreign films- drop it now. Amelie is perhaps the most exuberant, stylish and joyful film to pop along in ages. Lovingly made: the acting, the shot composition, the editing and the (very, very) subtle use of CGI...
Widescreen is a must for this one, as much of the film's beauty is chopped out in the VHS release (such as one scene, where Amelie is sitting in front of the TV in a room that's nigh entirely red- save for a small blue lamp to her left. It's a tiny detail, but it fleshes out everything wonderfully- closed captioned: the lamp is gone). Little things, definitely. But then, this is a movie that is all about the tiny details in life...
Yes, it's a love story, and as sweet as they come. No need to further belabor that aspect or give away any moments. But you will be surprised many times over. You will laugh at loud. And you will want to watch it again and again, especially with someone you can touch close by. And if you don't have someone- this movie may provide the much-needed impetus to go to France and start turning (not to mention skipping) stones (the shots of the city are marvellous).
Then there's Audrey Tautou, whose expressive face is the axis of the movie. Amelie holds your gaze like a naissance de millennium Audrey Hepburn. She has an elfin grace that is utterly sublime and unique. When Amelie smiles, you smile with her.
I could gush about this for a long, long time. Rarely do I see a film that brings out the child-like optimist and romantic in me- I tend to go for the unflinching, unredemptive view of humanity (Requiem for a dream and Happiness are two good examples).
If you have seen it, then you know why you should get this one- movies like this simply aren't made that often. Especially with such skill and flair (this was, I believe, Jeunet's first film sans Caro ((they did 'the city of lost children' and 'delicatessen,' both great films!)) and the cinematographer's first feature period, though I may be mistaken...)
If you haven't seen it- trust a stranger. This film will add something light and hopeful and precious to your life.
Movie Review: INSTANT CLASSIC A MUST SEE
Summary: 5 Stars
Audrey Tautou is the shy, pixieish "AMELIE" in Jean-Pierre Jeunet's magical romantic comedy that has garnered nearly unanimous rave reviews wherever it has played.
And yes, it really is that good.
Gamin-like and wide-eyed, Tautou bears more than a passing resemblance to a youthful Audrey Hepburn and she is perfect in the part of a lonely waitress who accidentally discovers a small box of what must be a former tenant's childhood treasures behind a loose tile in the bathroom of her apartment in the Montmartre section of Paris. Even though the items obviously have no monetary value, she sets out to discover who hid them and return the decades old object to their rightful owner. The strategies involved and the resulting success give her such a warm feeling she sets out to continue her acts of selfless kindness whenever the opportunity presents itself. Along the way, she is surprised to discover that her needs and wants are being met and she has found someone to love that just might love her in return. Naturally she plays out the game in the most charming of ways.
Jeunet, in an interview in the supplemental material, says this story has been in his head for more than twenty years. And it shows in the nuanced details of every shot. The fluid cinematography by Bruno Delbonnel perfectly matches the smooth flow of the constantly surprising story with sequences carefully composed and choreographed to underscore the emotion of every scene.
Furthermore, the entire film has been digitally tinted to match the patina hued paintings -- with splashes of red and spots of blue -- of a favorite Brazilian artist of the director.
In our cynical age of irony as entertainment, there's something special about experiencing a movie that reminds us of the sublime pleasure inherent in "treating others as we wish to be treated." Make no mistake, this is not a message film, it's not preachy and neither is it a chick flick. But rather a deeply beautiful film that charms on such a high level that it puts in proper perspective the dreck that poses as entertainment almost everywhere we turn.
Don't miss this marvelous film. It will resonate in your heart and mind for a long time.
Movie Review: Gift on a disc!
Summary: 5 Stars
That's what I think of this movie. The imagery, tale, and whimsy all put together on one tiny disc so beautifully, that once you see this you will feel the same.The first thing you will notice is the stunning camera work, then the actors, then the plot. The direction of this is so brilliant. The tale itself is pure whimsy but it will leave you with a sense of well-being.
All of the cast did an exceptional job and you will find that reading the subtitles is, in most cases, not neccessary. The director, actors and cinematographer have the uncanny ability to tell the entire story, along with mood that even if you don't read the subtitles, or for that matter understand French you will know what is going on. The actors delivery of thier lines let you in on every detail that is happening or about to happen.
The extras on this DVD is worth a look as well. Most of the time the "behind the scenes" stuff that laden DVD's is worthless, such is not the case. Take the time to look at all of the interviews and in particular, the director and the cinematographer. When you get a glimpse as to what it took to make this, you will be astounded. Sure it's not full of car chases, explosions or any other very high-tech special effects, but rather the director's vision and use of color to set the tone of every single scene. It is amazing. When you hear those blowhard directors talk about pouring thier souls into films generally, you pay no mind. However, with Jean-Pierre Jeunet, it's a whole different issue. The attention he paid to even the smallest detail is impressive, to say the least.
I find this film to be more palatable than his "City of Lost Children" which is a bit more like "Brazil". Jean-Pierre Jeunet, can get a tad complicated at times, but in Amelie, he does not lose focus for one second and you finish the film with the thought that there is a little bit of Amelie in all of us, but perhaps there should be more.
It doesn't matter if you are male or female, if you like action or sci-fi, this is not a "chick flick", this is a film for all. One of the best films made last year that should have had more recognition than it did.
Pick it up, you won't be sorry!
Movie Review: Trés Magnifique!
Summary: 5 Stars
Amélie is by turns a black comedy and a quirky romance. The storyline is the ever-familiar boy-meets-girl/girl-meets-boy, although the writing is refreshingly free from clichés.
The movie introduces us to Amélie, her family, and her coworkers in a rather original way, with a narrator describing them as they appear. The script throughout the movie is incredibly succinct and descriptive. The characters are described with only a few words, but are so well portrayed in those brief moments that I found it almost poetic in its depth. Not that the language is especially flowery; just insightful. The dialogue is similarly well done and there is often more than just one layer in the conversations.
The characters are fantastic; real and conveying a lot of depth. Each actor plays his or her role very convincingly and much of the humour is so good because the characters are so well-played.
The cinematography is also very good, and the sets are wonderfully warm and fit well with the movie's feel. Much of the camera work is shot with a wide-angle lens. Thus almost all of the scenes have at least a little bit of background in them. For me this helped immerse me more fully in the movie, as though I was really there.
There are some very funny moments in this film, with two scenes among the most hilarious of any I have ever watched. For such clever comedy it is also quite subtle; you are not beaten over the head with a punchline, and there aren't really any running jokes, as such. Well, there is one, but it changes in each of the three times it occurs in order to place the emphasis on slightly different aspects.
As has been stated in other reviews, there are some risqué elements to this movie, so it would not be appropriate for young children. It's more that the scene flashes up for a few seconds in relation to what Amglie is thinking and then disappears - that sort of thing. Also, the inside of a sex shop is part of a couple of scenes. But the movie doesn't engage in lengthy sex scenes that involve the main characters.
I highly recommend this movie for everyone interested in quirky romantic-comedies.