From The Red Squirrel on, Medem has used sex and its fantasies as an integral and intimate part of his films. That's part of their appeal, something a little daring, naughty. They also had complex, intricate and engaging stories, using different time zones and places to mesmerise us and his ever-seeking camera work kept us enthralled.
Whilst Room in Rome has Elena Ayaya from his super-sexy 'Sex and Lucia' and whilst Medem still explores stories here that have lots of strands in this - the two girls are forever playing identity games - do we actually care?
So, has he abandoned his Basque origins and is now trying to move into Hollywood? For a start, Room In Rome is almost entirely in English. That nods to a U.S market, does it not? Quite by incident that you get two 'foreign' strangers, who meet by chance and their common language of choice is English!
I found all this dialogue to be rather swamped, in that both girls are largely consensual about their very knowing sexuality and just aren't the type who'd fantasise about mythology, dreamy what-ifs and such like. After an hour, my concentration had drifted...
The music is one redeeming feature, both the songs and the Latino incidental bits.
Having bought and largely loved the Julio Medem box-set, which includes his first six films, I was doubtful about buying Room In Rome, largely due to reviews. But, at only a fiver I decided to and that way I'd have ALL of Medem's work, good and bad. Yes, I enjoyed the nudity, the sensuousness and the sexual fantasies that most men have about two gorgeous women and from those points of view, it suited its purpose - and hence my "O.K" vote.
However, I, and I'm sure many other of his fans sincerely hope that Medem returns to his rightful sort of movie - one, Hollywood assisted or not, where his imagination and camera are master and where we are taken on a glorious thrill ride. Don't forget, that, as in the case of two naked and beautiful women being very frank, you CAN have too much of a good thing.
Whilst Room in Rome has Elena Ayaya from his super-sexy 'Sex and Lucia' and whilst Medem still explores stories here that have lots of strands in this - the two girls are forever playing identity games - do we actually care?
So, has he abandoned his Basque origins and is now trying to move into Hollywood? For a start, Room In Rome is almost entirely in English. That nods to a U.S market, does it not? Quite by incident that you get two 'foreign' strangers, who meet by chance and their common language of choice is English!
I found all this dialogue to be rather swamped, in that both girls are largely consensual about their very knowing sexuality and just aren't the type who'd fantasise about mythology, dreamy what-ifs and such like. After an hour, my concentration had drifted...
The music is one redeeming feature, both the songs and the Latino incidental bits.
Having bought and largely loved the Julio Medem box-set, which includes his first six films, I was doubtful about buying Room In Rome, largely due to reviews. But, at only a fiver I decided to and that way I'd have ALL of Medem's work, good and bad. Yes, I enjoyed the nudity, the sensuousness and the sexual fantasies that most men have about two gorgeous women and from those points of view, it suited its purpose - and hence my "O.K" vote.
However, I, and I'm sure many other of his fans sincerely hope that Medem returns to his rightful sort of movie - one, Hollywood assisted or not, where his imagination and camera are master and where we are taken on a glorious thrill ride. Don't forget, that, as in the case of two naked and beautiful women being very frank, you CAN have too much of a good thing.