Charismatic professor David Kepesh glories in the pursuit of adventurous female students but never lets any woman get too close. When gorgeous Consuela Castillo enters his classroom, however, his protective veneer dissolves. Her raven-haired beauty both captivates and unsettles him. Even if Kepesh declares her body a perfect .. Read more
| Starring | Ben Kingsley, Dennis Hopper, Patricia Clarkson, Peter Sarsgaard |
|---|---|
| Director | Isabel Coixet |
| Genres | Drama, Romance |
loading...
Men grow old, but do they really ever grow up? Thats the question posed by this astute adaptation of Philip Roths... read more on Time Out
very close to perfection. i thought i was watching a new favourite of mine, but then the last chapter came and i felt so disappointed... great performances by Kingsley, Hopper and Clarkson, amazing cinematography, great direction, but the last part concerning Consuela and Kepesh was absolutely unecessary. It made the film too long, the ending cliched and obvious. Also, is it just me or was Cruz a little bit old for the part? But don't be put off by this. 80% of the film is simply sublime!
What a banal, cliched, predictable, boring story & film.
I was waiting with great anticipation to watch this film after I saw the trailer (that was really good). The movie was a massive disappointment. It turned out to be a very dark romance and something was 'missing'. The storyline wasn't very interesting or original, but the chemistry between Kingsley and Cruz just wasn't there, so the movie never quite gripped me as it should have, which made the ending thoroughly awkward and unconvincing.I'm not sure if perhaps Cruz, was (as one of the reviewers said) too old for the part, or perhaps Kingsley just wasn't his usual best, but the success of this movie came down to how persuasive the two main characters were, and that is where I think it failed.
Ben Kingsley plays a professor who starts yet another relationship with one of his students, the beautiful Penelop Cruz, in one of her best English speaking performances. There's an imbalance in their relationship from the start; his age and knowledge versus her youth and beauty. Their relationship unfolds slowly, but is doomed by Kingsley's unwillingness to commit to any kind of future with her. This is a slow-moving contemplation of love and relationships, with two great performances in the lead roles, and an interesting supporting cast.
This film is worth watching just for the sheer extraordinary performance of Ben Kingsley. I am always surprised by the sheer versatility of this actor. However, what often disappoints me about his films is that the actors surrounding him struggle to come close to his talent and this film is no exception. He seems to make the other characters almost unbelievable. Like a bunch of Am Dram's who've written to Jim'll Fixit.
Penelope Cruz just simply should not have been the lead in this film. There is only one scene, right near the end, where she nails a very good performance, otherwise it's just yet another 'I'm a gorgeous doe eyed beauty with a sexy voice and drive men wild' kind of performance which had little depth. However, surprisingly great performances from the actors playing his son, Kenny, his girlfriend, Carolyn, and his best friend, George. All three actors managed to create some real chemistry in their scenes with him which managed to keep the film going despite the blandness of Cruz.
All in all, this film is worth watching to experience the magnificence that is Kingsley and a reasonably intricate and engaging storyline.
very close to perfection. i thought i was watching a new favourite of mine, but then the last chapter came and i felt so disappointed... great performances by Kingsley, Hopper and Clarkson, amazing cinematography, great direction, but the last part concerning Consuela and Kepesh was absolutely unecessary. It made the film too long, the ending cliched and obvious. Also, is it just me or was Cruz a little bit old for the part? But don't be put off by this. 80% of the film is simply sublime!
What a banal, cliched, predictable, boring story & film.
I was waiting with great anticipation to watch this film after I saw the trailer (that was really good). The movie was a massive disappointment. It turned out to be a very dark romance and something was 'missing'. The storyline wasn't very interesting or original, but the chemistry between Kingsley and Cruz just wasn't there, so the movie never quite gripped me as it should have, which made the ending thoroughly awkward and unconvincing.I'm not sure if perhaps Cruz, was (as one of the reviewers said) too old for the part, or perhaps Kingsley just wasn't his usual best, but the success of this movie came down to how persuasive the two main characters were, and that is where I think it failed.
had to switch off this boring film, very disappointed
This film was one of the worst I've ever seen. Way way too long and really very pointless. Ben Kingsley's performance was really wooden and he seemed very bored-he's normally a reliable actor. Penelope Cruz is, in my opinion, a very poor actress who was playing a young student. She didn't pull the role off at all and her accent is very irritating. Also the plot hinges on the fact that she's a young charasmatic 'beauty'- she is certainly none of these things which is where the film falls flat. I'm struggling to see what the actual plot was. A total waste of time.
This film illustrates extremely well the angst and feelings experienced within a relationship between an older man and a younger woman.
The depth and details are likely to be appreciated by a limited audience.
I read the other reviews, I put them aside and I tuned into this film and loved it.It was sensitive and the ending, which others dismiss, is, in my humble opinion, touching and beautiful.
A must see for anyone that would enjoy a much deeper movie than the average american industry has to offer.
Kingsley and Hopper do a fine delivery and Cruz, not at her very best, is just brilliant.
Enjoy it...!
Certainly one of the best films we have seen for some while. The acting, photography and dialogue were excellent without any weak elements. The plot was believable and the pace did not slacken. I guess the emotional intensity and subject matter make this a film that is not to everyone's taste.
Thought that this took ages to get into, not good at all
Men grow old, but do they really ever grow up? Thats the question posed by this astute adaptation of Philip Roths... read more on Time Out