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Managing Editor Two fascinating movies are featured in this week's DVD review column. Romance & Cigarettes Actor John Turturro is well known for his many movie character roles, and far less for his work as a director. This might change as more people see "Romance and Cigarettes," his third film and one of the most audacious and original movies I've seen in a long time. Here's how Turturro described his film: "For me, 'Romance & Cigarettes' is a working class opera. When people don't have money, they escape through song, much like prayer. Being a lover of Fellini, Powell and Pressburger, and Bu uel, I was encouraged to not think I was completely out of my mind. Life isn't a comedy, or a tragedy, or a musical, but all of these elements are part of our everyday experience. According to Aristotle, a drama must have plot, character, thought, poetry, music and dance. I just added sex." Starring James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon and Kate Winslet, "Romance & Cigarettes" tells the story of ironworker Nick Murder is who married with three adult daughters. He is having an affair with a sexually charged younger woman (Winslet) who works in a lingerie shop and his life unravels when his wife Kitty (Sarandon) and daughters find out. Nick must make a choice about his life and Kitty must also decide which road to take. Turturro presents this story as a musical using pop tunes largely from the 1960s and 70s. Seeing Gandolfini sing and dance is a bit of a trip. This dream state is reinforced by Turturro who carefully made sure the audience is never quite aware of when the story was set. Winslet is a revelation in the kind of role I've never seen her before a plain-speaking sexual dynamo. Despite the subject matter of infidelity, the film has a delirious nature about it until the last third when it becomes a very straight and moving drama. The DVD has an introduction, and a commentary track by Turturro as well some deleted scenes. The short making-of documentary sheds light on how Turturro was able to get his cast to do things they have never done before as actors: he does them first, makes them laugh and they're willing to try. "Romance & Cigarettes" is a great little adventure in moviemaking. For more information log onto http://romanceandcigarettes film.com. La Vie En Rose I'm pretty good at making Oscar predictions and I'll go out on a limb and say that Marion Cotillard will get the best actress award if Academy voters don't decide to give Julie Christie the honor as one of those nods to a veteran performer. Cotillard's performance as Edith Piaf, the iconic French pop singer, is pretty amazing. She not only must play a character from a teenager to a middle-aged woman, but she also must reproduce the mannerisms of Piaf's performing style without it looking like an impersonation. Piaf's life was one of great personal tragedy coupled with even greater professional success. The actress carries the film with her bravura performance, but the production itself has editing flaws. The movie is structured in a series of flashbacks and flash forwards in such a way that it can cause some confusion to audiences that may not be Piaf fans and already know her life story. This problem aside, the film is quite compelling and gives the audience plenty of reasons to see why Piaf's singing was so beloved. The DVD currently available describes itself as the "extended version" and clocks in at about 141 minutes. The running time for the theatrical version is listed at 140 minutes. So perhaps there is a minute extra and perhaps not. The only bonus feature is a short documentary on the subtle yet effective make-up that transformed Cotillard into Piaf. A warning to those who don't like subtitled films: this film isn't dubbed into English. The subtitles are very legible, though. For more information, log onto www.edithpiaf movie.com. |
