| God Speed |
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| written by talltale |
July 16, 2008 - 4:08 PM PDT |
I'M GOING HOME promises much and delivers little, in the process asking the embarrassing question whether its director, the 94-year-old Manuel De Oliveira, should still be making movies. I have enjoyed with reservations some of the prolific Portuguese moviemaker's output -- and in fact, enjoyed immensely his later film, "A Talking Picture," so I guess all prolific moviemakers are entitled to an occasional flop. To get the full benefit of the "floppiness" on view, the viewer must watch the interview with De Oliveira that's on the CD. In it, the man talks about everything from modern society to the environment, the plague of cell phones and more--as though all of this is present and accounted for in his film. It ain't.
His story of an aging actor who suddenly loses most of his family wastes incredible footage on--first--the last act of Ionesco's EXIT THE KING then a scene from Shakespeare's THE TEMPEST, and finally another from an about-to-be filmed version of Joyce's ULYSSES. The first two theatre pieces at least have wonderful dialog, but the Joyce scenes go on to unconscionable lengths while giving the viewer almost nothing except repetition. Yet the actor's bond with his grandson (his only relative who remains alive and a relationship one might imagine is key to the film) remains barely explored. Yes, there are some lovely visuals of Paris; lead actor Piccoli is, as usual, just fine; and it's nice to see Sylvie Testud and Catherine Deneuve in small parts. Yet, when the film is over, you sit there thinking "What?" Then, you watch/listen to the director talk about the movie and--ohmigod--you realize how unknowing and quite post-retirement this man is. Embarrassing and sorrowful do not begin to describe the feeling. |
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