The Science of Sleep
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Movie Reviews of The Science of Sleep
Movie Review: Bittersweet love story, with amazing visual.
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a very European production. "The Science of Sleep" permeates with the viewer even more than "Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind" did after its first viewing because its more impulsive and creative. Michel Gondry, now having three full-feature films under his belt, does penetrate the very core of our dreams, and somehow makes us believe that we can too.
In the beginning of this film we can clearly see that Stephane, played by the charming Gael Garcia Bernal, has problems distinguishing dreams from reality. Stephane at first, lived in Mexico with his father, then moves to Paris with his mother after his father death. Taking up a boring and unsatisfying job, he often flees to an imaginary world. He falls in love with his new neighbor Stephanie (Charlotte Gainsbourgh). She herself is some sort of a dreamer, though more grounded in reality than Stephane. Though smitten by his fantastic world and creativity helps kick off their relationship. Now as the movie progresses Gondry blurs this concrete line and it becomes difficult for us to see the difference. This is a key part of the film, and seems to keep the impulse to a minimum while keeping us more in tune with Stephanes fantasies. Like everyone Stephane does, in his dreams, what he wants to do in reality, but can never muster the nerve to.
What's astonishing about this film is the sheer surreal childlike quality that Gondry is able to keep throughout the film. It's like an 8 year old was allowed to let his imagination go loose. Seldom have we seen such an inventive world on screen. The acting is naturally impressive. Gael Garcia Bernal is the perfect choice for Stephane. Though his character is a little bit uncanny (to say at least), he's able to make us feel sympathy for his character, especially at the end which is no small accomplishment. Gainsbourgh's prim and unconventional beauty is the perfect match for Bernal.
"The Science of Sleep" is more creative than Gondry's last two efforts, while still incorporating his interesting film work. Gondry does take the childlike stop-motion feel of "Rhinoceros Eyes," and blends it seemingly with his original ingenuity. A very human story involving the drama, paranoia, and tension experience. Not to be miss for the Indie film fans.
Movie Review: There is a science to sleeping? Wow. Where can I sign up for that class?
Summary: 4 Stars
"The Science of Sleep", director Michel Gondry's followup fictional piece to his modern classic "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"(he also directed the enjoyable "Dave Chappelle's Block Party"), is both a great movie and a frustrating one, and one of the few movies I have seen this year that I would tell everyone they need to check out.
Visually, the film is a treat, unlike anything that you've probably ever seen before. Gondry continues to work old school, no computer digital effects and green screen, rather opting for camera tricks and it gives the film an odd, one of a kind look. The vibe reminded me of a French New Wave picture but updated, and to say that watching the movie was an actual experience is an understatement.
Listening to it however is something different. The script, by Gondry, gives little in the way of actual plot, and leaves the charactors one dimensional for the mostpart of the movie. This is the movies principal flaw. It's as if Gondry came up with all the visual ideas and started shooting, as opposed to putting the images into a coherant story and giving scenes to the actors to build their charactors. Gael Garcia Bernal and Charlotte Gainsbourg both deliver good performances despite, Bernal ecspeccially showcasing his little scene comedic shops, and he reminded me a little of Buster Keaton in his mannerisms and reactions, a high compliment indeed.
"The Science of Sleep" works best if you just let it flow over you like a dream, and you donot bother paying attention to the specifics. It's a must see movie and, as said before, it is one of a kind. It's the only movie I have seen this year when I can honestly say I have never seen anything like it, and the techinical talent on display is obvious. But it's lack of believable and sympathetic charactors keep it from being the great movie it almost it.
8/10
Movie Review: --
Summary: 4 Stars
I was going to write something "witty" in quotation marks combining this title and "Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind" but only to connote the fack this to me is, while not a companion piece, whatever that means, unavoidably linked, at least to Americans, as a film as well as story. Briefly as well as personally, I enjoyed this one more. OK, "Eternal Sunshine" is the better movie as a whole. But I liked this one more. For one thing, "Et. Sun" didn't have that one laff-out-loud moment (for me!) that "Science" did, which was the time-machine bit where he grabbed/kissed her twice because "one was in the future and one was in the present".... --Getting down to it, this one shares the same flaws as its predecessor: it feels like a longer film-length than it is. It's toward the end it starts to bore, like a wonderful drug experience that you just want to see some exhilarating conclusion to and somehow wake up next morning and never quite recover . . . which is I suppose entirely appropriate; pththththththbthbthbthbth.... This is a beautiful film that should never have aimed toward some romantically clean resolution, -- which it didn't. However, the very "quirkiness", for lack of a better adjective, which deliciously sets this film apart throughout the first two-thirds of the film, are highlighted to the great disadvantage of story, emotion, and engagement, in the final. I for one am left with a sense that the main character has betrayed himself in pursuing a course that identifies dream with escape instead of enhancement. --Not to mention he ends up a whining little *&%$#@!Movie Review: Inter-esting!
Summary: 4 Stars
If I had not already seen "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," I probably would go ahead and give this film 5 stars...however, director Gondry's "Science of Sleep" is just not quite as good.
There are a lot more self-indulgent dead spots in this one, like during some of the dream sequences when the Bernal character (Stephan) fantasizes about taking over his office and tosses his boss out the window. All the cardboard animation (something perhaps fortunately missing from the previous film) gets a bit overdone and tiring after a while, I was sorely tempted to fast forward through some of it. I know the arts and crafts story element is supposed to work as a metaphor for the human imagination, but it did seem to get a little redundant at times.
Still, I was glad that I rented this film. Gael Garcia Bernal and Charlotte Gainsborough, the two main leads, are always a pleasure to watch and in this film they are supported by a strong cast---particularly the neanderthal co-worker Guy. The camera work is quite interesting, a lot of unusual angles here. I could easily imagine myself liking this film more and more the more times I watch it...
If only Gondry had had a stronger-armed producer who could've trimmed off more of the fat, this might have equalled its predecessor, "Eternal Sunshine."
Movie Review: "The brain is the most complex thing in the universe! And it's behind the nose."
Summary: 4 Stars
I quite liked "La Science des Rêves." Its whimsy, acting, and design are all worthy of admiration. Particularly enjoyable is director Michel Gondry's various delightful and low-tech sets and special effects. At its best moments, the movie resembles the work of a prodigiously talented film student; it has that mix of unbridled creativity, innocence, and yes, even an endearing pretentiousness.
And yet as soon as the film was over, I felt disappointed. It seemed to me that perhaps TOO much thought went into the movie's design, leaving the story somwehat malnourished. As the film is mostly in the form of a dream, this may seem like a nonsensical criticism, so let me amend my criticism; Stephane (played by the gifted Gael García Bernal) comes across as eccentric, perhaps even mentally ill. Fine, fine. But in the end, he also convinces us that he is infantile, and perhaps even irredeemably creepy and less interesting than we thought.
Roll credits and cue disappointment. Let me reiterate though, this is a refreshingly irrational film, and quite fascinating on its own terms.