Tapp on KST
"Unlike Clint Eastwood's Changeling, there is no melodrama in I've Loved You So Long, only real, quiet, strong acting," says Daily Beast columnist Tom Tapp. Kristin Scott Thomas' Juliette does not rant at society's injustices. Hers is a reactive performance. She watches the family. She watches her employers. She watches her sister. And somehow, our attention is held the entire time -- I was completely captivated observing her, observing the world.
"Thomas's is the kind of performance that critics always say deserves an Oscar, but rarely wins: an interior role in a small film in another language. But who knows? The critics have been rapturous. Maybe the Academy will be as well. The film will be a glaring absence in the Foreign Film category (France's The Class is France's selection this year), but we'd be glad to see Thomas in the Best Actress category again, where she belongs. There certainly has not been a better performance this year in any country."
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on October 22, 2008 at 5:08 PM
comment #1
lawnorder
says ...
I love the performances in the film and agree with most points made - but the ending is a real cop-out...
HUGE SPOILERS....
There's no way an autopsy wouldn't have turned up the child's disease and a certain degree of leniency be taken into account when it came time for sentencing. Clearly, this was not a "murder" in the normal sense of parental abuse. She was a doctor and she saw the suffering her child would have to go through and decided to put him out of his misery. Yes, euthanasia is against the law - but there's no way a woman would get 14 years in France, especially given her distraught state of mind. The sister would have discovered all this in the public record of the trial and she would understand what her sister went through. The whole ending of the film falls apart because it moves in a direction that attempts to soften the reason for KST's past actions. I think this one definitely plays fast and loose with reality and although it works on your emotions and reduces you to tears in the end, it betrays everything that comes before it.
Posted by lawnorder
at October 22, 2008 5:56 PM
comment #2
guylodge
says ...
Couldn't agree more. I can't see any performance topping this one.
Though the comment about the film's "glaring absence" from the Best Foreign Film race strikes me as an unfair slight on "The Class," which is an extraordinary film in its own right. The problem isn't with France's selection, but with the fact that a country currently producing multiple masterpieces a year (certainly more than the US has come up with in 2008) can only submit one film to represent itself. Madness.
Posted by guylodge
at October 22, 2008 6:06 PM
comment #3
doobiedoo
says ...
SPOILERY COMMENT RE: HUGE SPOILERS:
I'm not convinced of lawnorder's rationale regarding what an autopsy may or may not have revealed. I wasn't so bothered. I assumed that Juliette's 'confession' was a basic what and how, witholding the why. The immediate evidence bearing that out may have prevented a coroner looking further. She wanted to punish/imprison herself.
The film is so intricately plotted, i refuse to believe a failure of narrative. Jeff, did you speak to Philippe?
All that said, I can't help feeling this very spoilery discussion is best left for a month or two until the film's been fully released...
Posted by doobiedoo
at October 22, 2008 6:14 PM
comment #4
Chase Kahn
says ...
The backlash on CHANGELING has been substantial since cannes...
Combined with the incessant trailers and tv spots with Jolie clamoring, "I want MY SON BACK!", I now have the film slotted, unfortunately.
Posted by Chase Kahn
at October 22, 2008 6:23 PM
comment #5
doobiedoo
says ...
Rex Reed also says yay:
http://www.observer.com/2008/o2/great-scott
ILYSL's current Tomatometer rating: 93% fresh
Posted by doobiedoo
at October 22, 2008 7:11 PM
comment #6
Jenny4
says ...
Kristin Scott Thomas is a great actress and it's a pity she doesn't do more popular movies. Seiko Automatic Diver watches
Posted by Jenny4
at December 7, 2010 6:38 PM
comment #7
janee
says ...
Si vous etes interesses par le dossier, ou desirez en savoir plus, contactez-moi par mail, et je vous mettrai en contact.
Best regards,Jane, CEO of high availability architecture
Posted by janee
at May 18, 2011 6:17 AM