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Reviews
Regarde la mer (1997)
Predictable and Ultimately Dull
After quite a good setup of the sparse seaside landscape and the frustrated housewife with baby it degenerates into a "thriller" that delivers a few shocks (or more correctly disgusting moments) but no true surprises or twists.
The drifter is a stock character with no depth or distinguishing characteristics from other such characters (nor is any added by the actress in a flat performance) so ultimately there is no menace to sustain even a film this short. The housewife fares better, particularly in the first half, with a little more depth but even that is discarded for the "surprise" ending. And if you were surprised then you weren't paying attention (probably because you were nodding off).
The film is shot in a harsh, minimalist way that tends towards realism which intrigues during the initial setup but is betrayed by the often unrealistic (or at least they felt that way) goings on that are played straight with no stylistic touches whatsoever. And in such a short film several scenes really have no bearing on the plot and really add nothing to the characters. As such the film ultimately lacks depth and tension and ends up being just, well, dull.
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
Don't Waste Your Time
And believe me, you will notice every minute of the more than 2 hour running time. This is the first DVD I rented that I disliked so intensely that I did not even watch the special features. It is one of those rare movies that leaves a bad taste in your mouth when the credits roll.
This movie is so full of scenes that jump up and down and say "look at me, I'm a plot contrivance" that you will be completely exasperated before it's over. Perhaps if the characterizations were more consistent some of the glaring plot holes and annoyances could be ignored. The odd thing is the acting is not bad (it is, after all, a very strong cast), the actors are just written into corners that no amount of good acting can overcome. Also, I've never seen the gifted Cate Blanchett given so little to do and so wasted.
All the characters are unlikable, either for their behavior or dim-wittedness, and the plot is not clever enough (even though it screams over and over again "look how clever I am!") to make up for it. It makes me want to read the book and see what happened in the translation.
If you are seeking subtle suspense, strong characterizations, and a strong and cohesive story presentation, then you will have to look elsewhere.