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Directed by: Bernardo Bertolucci Starring: Michael Pit, Eva Green “The Dreamers” is the latest sexually provocative effort by director Bernardo Bertolucci (Last Tango in Paris) starring Eva Green as the delectable Isabelle and the DiCaprio look-alike Michael Pitt as Matthew. Set in Paris, during the sixties amongst the riots in the streets, the overhanging issue of Vietnam and the closing of the famous Cinematheque Francais, this motion picture follows the blossoming friendship of three. Three obsessive movie buffs spending their days watching movies, talking about movies, arguing about movies and re-enacting movies for their compadres to guess at with a risk of forfeit. Matthew is an American from California spending a year learning French in France, living in a run down hotel apartment. Isabelle and Louis are twins (seemingly ex-siamese, despite their sex) – half French, half English; a French poet as a father and an English mother. The three come together for the first time at a rally against the closing of the Cinematheque where they instantly become friends and spend the day together. The entirety of the plot is the development of the relationship between these three students, especially after Matthew moves in while the parents are away. For fans of aged cinema that like those works of Keaton and Chaplin and movies such as “Freaks”, “Blonde Venus” and “Top Hat” this movie is far beyond a treat – it is a blessing. Filled with clips, re-enactments, discussions and obsessions, this is a must see movie for classic film buffs alike. If not only for a brief partaking in the games that the three engage in. The enjoyment will be multiplied for those that were cinema lovers living in the sixties – bringing not only old hobbies and delights back, but placing them back into a real and lively sixties environment that is believable and historically accurate. The artistic content of the film, from the falling credits down the Eiffel tower to the running theme of threes (mirrors, faces) and the placement of significant objects (lighter), this is a beautiful movie that one can love cinematically while still delving into the psyche and thought behind each and every perfect moment created by Bertolucci. A favorite scene of mine was the Venus De Milo moment when Isabelle appears in a perfect poise, standing limbless at the shoulders. Although this is closely rivaled by the gas scene and it’s parallels reflecting how each character’s actions are overly influenced by their cinematic experiences (not their action in general, but how they carry out the action and the way in which they think about the action they are doing). The sexual content of this movie is one to rival Ken Park. However rather than using sex, nudity (both male and female) and the human body in a perverse and scandalous way, Bertolucci carries it out in a somewhat enthralling and intriguing manner combined with elements of humor (note: the fried egg and the kitchen floor moment involving Louis). The taboo of the initial male nudity is quickly thrown out as we develop alongside our character Matthew. However the sexual acts are still bizarre to say the least, yet once again this emulates our connection with our overseas student who sees these things in much a similar light. As he grows accustomed, so too do we. There is not enough time for me to tell you all the good moments of this movie, nor would I want to spoil them for you. I could spend hours studying this brilliant work of film and never get bored. This is definitely not a movie for everybody, those that cannot stomach raw nudity in movies nor have an appreciation for the subject will not like it. I loved this movie, and it loved me too. “After all, an orgasm is better than a bomb.” – Bertolucci. I wrote this review a few weeks back for my site Acquired Tastes 5/5
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May 2, 2004 12:28
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| # ? Apr 26, 2024 03:39 |
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This really was a beautiful love letter to filmmaking from Bertolucci, packed with striking, interesting imagery and situations. It's especially cool if you know anything about the French New Wave; I spent a term watching Godard and Truffaut films, and man, from "The Dreamers" you really get a sense about how passionately the French took their films — it's inspiring. 5/5
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May 2, 2004 17:58
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Bertolucci, as he showed originally in Last Tango in Paris, is a master of the subtleties of eroticism. This film transcends pornography - while it by no means shows healthy sexuality, it does indeed uplift what the characters go through until sex becomes a sort of energy that permeates through the time period. But it is with this fact that I also take issue with some of the film's themes. The American student, Matthew, is a heavily stereotypical 1960's Puritanical American. At one point, he is ashamed to even see another man naked. While he does indeed go on a journey to purge himself of these beliefs, I found the place he ended up to be too "typical." It felt too much like another subtle French jab at the Anglicized tendrils of the West. In that vein, Eva Green made remarks in an interview earlier this year: "It must be very shocking for the American people, but what I don't understand is why they are so crazy about that. I don't understand why you can't see naked [who happen to be brother and sister involved sexually, you vacuous trollip]people on screen but we can see a baby being killed. It's quite strange. They're too puritan, too uptight." Of the half-dozen of Bertolucci's films I've seen since Tango, I can't help but sense some sort of egocentrism of perspective whenever moral or sexual interplay arises. It by no means takes away from the films' beauty, but it does make me want to roll my eyes, and makes me reticent to absorb anything deeper the movie may have to offer - and keeps me from throwing on another 1/2 star. Don't be mistaken, this is by no means a "5" - it is certainly not one of the elite "best ever" films out there. Many independent movies are on par with it. Furthermore, the content is certainly not for everyone. After watching the movie, I decided to read the book, and I found that, missing the majesty of Bertolucci's filmmaking, the novel's thematic value fell hopelessly flat. Apart from that, The Dreamers was stunningly shot, very well acted, and possessed an immersiveness in the time period that few low-budget films have been able to achieve. Perhaps the most aweing portions are the perfectly choreographed scenes of characters acting out classic movie scenes. As has been said, any fan of early cinema will be fascinated. 4/5 PROS: Masterfully directed by Bertolucci, exceptional acting from some relatively unknown young actors, constant allusions to classic films. CONS: Franco-centric viewpoints tend to corrupt thematic value of the film. Sexual themes that may not sit well with some viewers. Don't watch this with a sibling, it contains incest - I have a twin sister, and I would sooner die than even discuss this movie with her.
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Jul 27, 2004 05:27
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I thought the girl was extremely hot. I'm just 20 years old so don't understand most of the references and things like that. It was an interesting movie but I probablyy wouldn't watch it again. 3/5
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Jul 27, 2004 08:41
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