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| Simon (McAvoy). |
Directed by Danny Boyle
Produced by Danny Boyle and Christian Colson
Written by Joe Ahearne and John Hodge
Starring James McAvoy, Vincent Cassel and Rosario Dawson
****
Danny Boyle's latest follows Simon (McAvoy), an art auctioneer, whose job is to safely dispose of a painting in the event of a robbery. After Franck (Cassel) and his men attempt to steal a highly valuable piece from him, Simon suffers from amnesia. This wouldn't be as much of a problem, except he's double-crossed them and stolen the painting himself. When they force him to talk, Simon can't remember what he's done with the artwork. Enter Elizabeth (Dawson), a hypnotherapist bent on helping Simon recover his memories. She partners with them, and the whole group tries to get Simon to remember just what happened. But, as it turns out, things are not as they seem, and Simon might not be ready for what he finds if he unlocks these repressed memories.
Boyle's new film is a fascinating tale that plays with memory (not unlike Inception and Memento), and far from the vein of his recent Oscar-touted works. It is a violent psychological thriller told with just the right amounts of grit and style. However, it has so many twists that it's hard to separate dream from reality, as Simon's memories - or lack thereof - are constantly evolving. And the confusion works so well because it puts the viewer in Simon's situation. In addition, McAvoy gives an intense performance, embracing Simon's shift from a lighter to a darker side; and Cassel is as reliable as ever as the villainous Franck, making him a gray piece of the puzzle instead of a standard black-and-white character. Dawson, meanwhile, is terrific as Elizabeth, a character as strong as she is manipulative. Also, the film is visually interesting, and the soundtrack has some great tunes as well. In the end, the film is a solid entry in Boyle's diverse catalogue, and it just might be one of his best.
Oscar Potential: Best Film Editing, Best Original Song ("Here It Comes"), Best Sound Editing
Right now, this is my favorite film of 2013 so far and my 2nd favorite film from Danny Boyle that I've seen so far. I was just blown away by what he was doing. It's got a great soundtrack and some amazing performances including Rosario Dawson who really stood out for me. She's got my vote for Best Supporting Actress.
ReplyDeleteTrainspotting is still tops for me, but this is up there. Also, it's definitely in my top 3 of the year so far (along with Spring Breakers and To the Wonder). Though, I'm not sure where I'd rank it. Dawson was great, no doubt.
DeleteGreat that you liked this one, I'll definitely see it. I like Boyle's early work and this seems like a bit more serious stuff than something like Slumdog Millionaire, which I hated.
ReplyDeleteBe interested to hear your thoughts on it. It's definitely more serious than Slumdog.
DeleteIt’s not Boyle’s best, but definitely one of his most fun and entertaining pics in recent time. Good review Josh.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dan. I'd say it's one of his better films, but not his best.
DeleteI love the cast and the director, but mixed reviews have me cautious. I'll see this eventually, and your review has me more excited about what I'll be seeing!
ReplyDelete"Mixed" is kind of how I feel about it, actually. I loved it, but I do think it has some flaws. That said, I can't get it out of my mind, and I can't wait to revisit it.
DeleteGlad you liked it! I'm going to see this tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteYay! Hope you like it!
DeleteOooh, I'm even more intrigued now that you gave it a high score. Bummer that I couldn't see this because of a snow storm but the combo of Boyle & McAvoy is the main draw for me. Glad it delivers, Josh.
ReplyDeleteIt's another divisive film, so I can't wait to hear your thoughts on it, Ruth.
DeleteWow! This sounds right up my alley. It may be worth actually seeing in the theater before it comes to DVD, something I rarely do. :-)
ReplyDeleteOoh, that's great! Hope I haven't built it up too much, as I do think it isn't perfect. I still loved it though. Hope you get to see it soon!
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