MOVIE REVIEW: FIFTY SHADES OF GREY





31/2/5

A chance encounter between a university student and A young billionaire creates mutual affection. But this Cinderella story has a twist. Cristian Grey has a special sexual appetite. Ana Steel has to choose to accept a set of rules in order to be with the man she loves. But if she decides to change for him, will she loose her true self forever?
50 SHADES OF GREY works perfectly as a melodrama, but as soon as it steps into uncharted territory of perverse sexual games it is prudent and slightly awkward. In one scene Ana's best friend Kate asks her to describe Grey, and Ana bursts out the first word that came to mind: "Clean." This description fits the movie in whole - it is slick, clean and safe, at times even sterile. The steamy scenes in Grey's playroom are picture perfect, full of designer sex toys that never really have a chance to be used properly. Take these scenes out and movie will not lose anything.
The good news are that even without so called controversy the film lives up to expectation, the chemistry between Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan is strong and camera loves them. Dakota Johnson has a look and style of young Sophie Marceau, while Jamie Dornan is a rough modern version of Ryan Phillippe. They do make a great movie couple.
While film battles with the explicit nature of the material, it manages to raise a few interesting questions: does one always have to change for the sake of love? And does it really worth it?
For a book that is penned as badly written and shallow there is an an interesting depth in the film that is based on it. And there are a few moments for a thinking viewer, where they are least expected. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

We'll End Up Together - Nous Finirons Ensemble (French Movie Review)

Image
10/10 Max has a sixtieth birthday coming up. The problem is he is broke, divorced and depressed. When a group of his best friends show up at his doorstep to help him celebrate, he reluctantly agrees to spend a few days with them, but won’t explain what’s going on in his personal life. When ones darkest moments come, will friendship conquer all? Seven years after the breakout success of the film Little White Lies (Les Petits Mouchoirs) comes the long anticipated sequel and it is worth the wait. The success of WE’LL END UP TOGETHER is not in its rather predictable plot, but the chemistry on screen, the characters that we recognise ourselves and our friends in, and the amazing warm atmosphere that makes one believe there’s no problem a good dinner with friends won’t sort out.  Written and directed by much loved French actor and director  Guillaume Canet this movie feels like a welcome return home to those who have seen the original and will also welcome new viewership - the film c
Read more

KOREAN MOVIE REVIEW: MEMOIR OF A MURDERER

Image
8/10 Byung-su is an elderly veterinarian who has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He has a caring daughter who does all she can to make his life easier, and a policemen friend whose name Byung-su forgets from time to time. He also goes to a poetry club (in order to keep his mind exercised) where a lonely widow makes advances at him. But there’s one thing that sets Byung-su apart from the other senior citizens of his little town – he is a serial killer.  When a new wave of killings begin Byung-su starts to suspect that a young man who is dating his daughter is the culprit. Trying to keep the remains of his memories together Byung-su writes extensive journals. But what if his memories are actually real? Losing his grip on reality he goes head to head with the new serial killer in order to protect the only life he cares about in the world – his daughter’s. Before Dexter came around Koreans had excelled in creating charismatic killers as protagonists of the films
Read more

MSFF: DEATH IN BUENOS AIRES (MUERTE EN BUENOS AIRES)

Image
3 1/2 /5 It's year 1980 and we are in Buenos Aires. The wealthy gay man is murdered  and inspector Chaves is on the case. In order to find the culprit he has to plunge into the world of gay nightclubs, drugs and sex. But what is it with the young and handsome officer Gomes, who was the first on the crime scene, and seems to place himself with ease as a mole into a gay community? Is he trying to catch the killer? Or hiding something? As suspicions arise, Chaves is haunted by the feelings he does not understand. Will the fatal attraction to a younger man help him to solve the case, or be his undoing? First time director Natalie Meta is "spot on" on the upbeat atmosphere of the 80s without too much expense. She cleverly uses the pop tunes, over-the-top clothes and many other ingredients to recreate the time. The murder mystery is secondary, and the movie is focused on the relationship between the two men, full of innuendoes and mistrust. The very simple cinema
Read more