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Bright Young Things (2003)
Fun, Smart, and A Good Ride
This is one of the best films I have seen in a while. I was lucky to be able to catch it at Washington, DC's International Film Fest, but I hope that it gets a proper U.S. release date soon.
The stunning costumes, set, and dialogue -- all very era-appropriate -- were compelling. I don't usually go for period pieces, but so much of this movie seemed tongue-and-cheek that I couldn't help enjoying it. The main characters were well-developed, each with their own quirks, and there were some unexpected twists that helped move the plot along.
Stephen Campbell Moore, the actor who plays the lead (Adam Symes), is a real find. He carries the movie beautifully, and I wouldn't be surprised if he became a huge star. Even though Moore does fine on his own, you have to give credit to Simon Callow (King of Anatolia), Jim Broadbent (the drunk Major), and others in the supporting cast for mastering their oddball roles. Furthermore, the costume designer deserves an Oscar.
I was a bit disappointed with the ending, or at least the scenes leading up to the end. The film starts out like a carnival ride and runs out of gas near the end. But, like all good carnival rides, once you finish, you want to get back on. That's the way I felt about "Bright Young Things." I can't wait to see it in the theater again.
Travolti da un insolito destino nell'azzurro mare d'agosto (1974)
I didn't buy it
What could have been an interesting and funny film about the struggle between the classes and the sexes, turned out to be very poor love story. That is, if your definition of love involves rape and submission.
I had trouble rooting for the protagonists and believing that a rich, supposedly well-educated and independent woman, would fall in love with a man that repeatedly slaps her and forces her to wash his clothes, clean his hut, etc. Likewise, I thought the portrayal of the Sicilian man was a bit extreme, however true. I kept waiting for a plot twist, but none came.
Finally, and most importantly, where in the hell is this deserted island off the coast of Italy? That was probably the most far-fetched aspect of the whole movie.