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RE: "The Sheltering Sky......

Posted by afilado (A) on June 30, 2009 at 18:53:38

In Reply to: "The Sheltering Sky......" plodding? Large disagreement. I found it a fascinating, posted by tinear on June 30, 2009 at 17:30:54:

I love tasting the cultural, spiritual and geographic flavors of that part of the world. The book captures that exotically (and erotically) well enough for me, although it has a straightforwardness that is disconcerting

I found all three leads in the movie to be misplaced, consequently detached from the story, and from each other. As if they were just playing types instead of characters. I never felt any of the sexuality, tired or otherwise. These people were simply bored, ultimately boring, as played on screen.

I like Malkovich and can always enjoy his acting. But, when he is deprived of the opportunity for irony, as here, I think, he becomes undirectable and his imminent subtleties are hard to reason in the larger context. I don't see a strong directorial hand on any of the characters.

The director paid more attention to the incidentals than to the heart of the story.

Contrast the main characters to Spall as a small but electric presence on screen. His shenanigans as a precious, hen-pecked but crafty son/thief/trickster were just a delight. I couldn't wait to see what he would come up with next. His mother was an accomplished presence while on-screen, no matter who she played scene with. And, in great portions of the film theirs was the most interesting contribution to continuity.

There were other flashes of little brilliance. The insider visuals, the pacing. On balance, the film was less than I'd expected and hoped for.

I'll take instead, for instance, The Passenger. And another Italian director. Again and again, over this one.

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