Deserves a look. ~~"The Man Who Cried (Widescreen)"

The Man Who Cried (Widescreen)

Mca (Universal)
Sales Rank: 13610

See details at Amazon.ca

 

 Deserves a look., 2003-01-06

"The Man Who Cried" is not at all as terrible as many (re)viewers purport it to be. Sure, it has some questionable moments and developments but redeeming qualities abound in it as well. It is a movie-ballad of sorts. Its strengths are in compelling musical highlights and background, vivid -- troubled and resilient -- characters, the provocation of emotion. "The Man Who Cried" is like an elaboration on a legend -- colorful, passionate, with leaps of faith, one where fate is both contested and inevitable.

All actors deliver undeniably strong performances. Cate Blanchett is unsurprisingly exquisite in the role of a resourceful, hedonistic but emphathetic seductress. John Turturro's marvelous acting is successfully flavored with obsessive streaks evident earlier in "The Quiz Show" and "The Luzhin Defense". Johny Depp is back in the 'noble savage' saddle (a character well that may be running dry). Christina Ricci is exciting, devoted, endearing, and intense, as usual. Oleg Yankovsky (one of Russia's top actors) is strong in his small but spirited role.

As has been pointed out by others, the script may be the movie's weakest feature, with all but perhaps one character (Blanchett's Lola) yearning for stronger lines, or at least more of them. Yet, both a minimalist script and a plot that is not particularly inventive or complex can be justified by the movie's attempt to play more like a ballad than a novel.

Deep icy blue is the film's signature color and is at times joined by brilliant reds and sparse whites. The DVD's bonus notes mention that Sally Potter drew inspiration for the scenes and locations from Cartier-Bresson's and Koudelka's photography -- something that doesn't quite come across in the movie. Still, it is an appealing cinematic experience, and one that does not deserve to be discarded as worthless.

Reviewed By A1MNRQCTURUNLF

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