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This movie is profoundly a tale of utter despair and misery. It's a saddening story of love that can never be. I haven't read the original book for comparison, but, in my opinion, this movie lacked balance. The anguish of the characters is so overwhelming that it straight out required some lightness to balance the entirety. The problem with darkness is that, in time, the eyes get used to it. In the sense of drama, this movie became quickly bland, because there was no dramatic variation.
The reason why I didn't give this movie a 3/10 is Ralph Fiennes who gave out an outstanding performance. That man requires no lines since his eyes can carry out all the unspoken words. Needless to say that the whole entity of his being is gorgeous. He is sheer beauty, but can actually act, as well. His performance in this movie is so incredibly powerful that it provokes very violent emotions in the viewer. This is the only man who can make a murderous and twisted psycho a truly appealing and lovable character.
Fiennes just steals every scene he's in, even simply by standing in the background, sulking. He possesses such raw sexual appeal that I just feel sorry for all the other male leads. (A nude Fiennes scene would have given this movie a full 10, but sadly no...) As a side notion, this movie has a breathtaking opening sequence. Sinister and demure strings begin playing on the dark screen, then the whole sky opens on the canvas and high, beautiful notes roar passionately like the ocean waves as the viewer is met by a gloomy landscape of an endless stormy sky and dark meadows that go on to the distance.
An added point for this movie comes from the soundtrack. Japanese truly master the art of capturing emotions into music and Ryuichi Sakamoto makes a fantastic score for the film. His music is full of longing and melancholy, yet it's powerful and consuming.
I would only recommend this movie to a person who is specifically interested in periodical drama. As a chick-love-flick this won't do.
score 7/10
Kuroel 26 March 2009
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw2043199/ |
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18-3-2021 00:07:10