[xrr rating=4/5]
It took me some time to ‘amour’ this film, but after thinking about it for a few days, I really do ‘amour’ it.
I’m back!
It’s been somewhat of a lengthy hiatus since I’ve sat down and written an actual review on a movie, you know, with all the hoopla that surrounds “The Mattys”. But that is exactly what I am going to do today. I’m not saying that I despise “The Mattys” or anything like that, it’s just that I’ve seen so many movies since January 1st and haven’t been able to review any of them because of all the time and effort we have had to put in down at the ‘Matty Academy’ just to make “The Mattys” go off without a hitch. And there have been some movies that deserve to be reviewed, like “Texas Chainsaw 3D”. I kid you not, this could be the worst horror film in the history of horror films. (And I’ve seen “Human Centipede”!) This film absolutely deserved a “Matty lashing”. But alas, my awards show deserved the focus we gave it, and “The Mattys” were a rousing success. Thank you all for coming.
Now let’s review a movie!
Sorry, we’re going to review a French film today. Yeah yeah, I know what you’re all saying, “Why in the hell is he reviewing a movie from that weak ass country?” Well, I’ll tell you why. Because I’ve always loved their toast, their fries, their ticklers, their dressing, and most importantly, their kissing. But the God’s honest truth is because this film is up for “Best Picture” at the Oscars this weekend. (Sadly, it did not win the ‘Golden Big-Beak’ for Best Film at last week’s “Mattys”.)
“Amour” is not your typical film. First off, it’s French, so you’d automatically think that it’s going to be boring. I mean, tell me a french film that has left an impression on your brain. “Transformers” wasn’t made in France. Neither was “Freejack”. Hell, even “From Paris with Love” wasn’t made in France! And the film’s main characters are as old as dirt, so you know right off the bat that you’re not going to see it for any sexual stimulation. (Sorry old people, but I speak the truth.)
But “Amour” delivers a character driven, love story with heart. Something the french are good at. You will not see any T-1000’s, or Spock beaming down to save the day, or the Millenium Falcon racing to jump into hyperspace in this film. All you’ll get here is a good old fashioned tale of a loving husband and wife growing old together and dealing with the pitfalls of their age.
Sounds boring, doesn’t it? I thought so too. Even when I walked out of the theatre I thought it was somewhat slow and dull… But six days after seeing it, I’m still thinking about it. And thinking about it in a much different light now. Sometimes movies will do that to you. That’s how you can tell if a film is good or not. Longevity… Now I understand why this film is up for Best Picture.
The story goes like this: Husband and wife, Georges and Anne (Jean-Louis Trintignant and Emmaneulle Riva, respectively) are well educated, upper class, retired music teachers. Their evenings would consist of going to the orchestra and gallivanting with the other “cultured” folk. But they weren’t snobs, Im just laying the landscape out for you. Anyways, one morning Georges and Anne are sitting down to breakfast. (I think they were having a hard boiled egg and a grapefruit… Actually, I KNOW it was a hard boiled egg, I’m not sure on the grapefruit though… but that’s neither here nor there.) Georges is talking to Anne. Anne is ‘out like a light’, but wide awake. She is unresponsive to all Georges questions. Georges tries to snap her back into consciousness, but nothing is doing. Some minutes go by, then all of a sudden Anne is back to her old self. She has no clue that this ‘episode’ had even happened.
Well, Georges says, (and don’t quote me) “Listen Babes, I’m taking you to the quack-doc, you’re all messed up in the squash!” (He may have said something slightly different, I’m not sure because he was speaking french.) Low and behold, something was wrong with her. They never really say exactly what it was, but from what I know from pretending to be a doctor all these years, I think she had some type of stroke. I’ve seen strokes firsthand and my professional diagnosis as a movie reviewer: stroke.
The story then moves to the old couples apartment… and stays there for the rest of the film. It really starts showing the strength of their love, along with some other trials and tribulations that go along with having to deal with a paralized person. And also not being able to understand your partner because she’s lost the ability to speak. So much goes into taking care of someone with these issues. And to be the lone husband who has to take care of her? Well, it can get quite overwhelming.
Georges does hire nurses, but he never really takes a shining to them. He thinks that they are hurting his wife. (which they may have been, I’m not sure, I couldn’t tell. I thought they were doing their job correctly, just not respectfully. They should’ve been more caring to the poor lady. But what do I know, I’m an idiot. This is why I review movies and I’m not a nurse.) The problem is, Georges promised his wife that he wouldn’t put her back in the hospital. She despises hospitals and would rather die at home.
And that’s where this story goes to… It goes to the “dying” aspect of the film. You can see that there is so much love between these two people. You just don’t know what to feel about death. I know what I felt when I walked out of the theatre. I would like to know what you thought about it. (Come on, tell me what you thought. Write a comment!) If you’re a movie afficianado like myself, I strongly suggest you see this film… And see it before the Oscars if you can. It’s playing at Dedham Community Theatre right now. Lovely theatre. Lovely town. Lovely movie.
One more thing, Emmanuelle Riva is up for Best Actress in this film. And while I thought she did a splendid job as a dying old lady, I think that Jean-Louis Trintignant deserved a Best Actor nod as well. He had to carry the film almost all by himself at times, and he had to play a wide awry of emotions. I thought he was great and the Academy hosed him.
Yeah, it took me a few days to really appreciate this film. And although I do not think it has a chance to win “Best Picture”, it most definitely does deserve to be in the conversation.
Maybe it will win “Best Foriegn Language Film”… You know, in the category where it belongs… BECAUSE IT’S A FREEKY-DEEKY FRENCH FILM!
It’s good to be back.
Fun Fact: At age 84, Emmanuelle Riva is the oldest woman ever nominated for “Best Actress” by the Academy.
Fun Matty Fact: When I saw the poster for this film, I thought the lady was the same woman who played “Happy Gilmore’s” mother. That’s the real reason I wanted to see this film.