Magnolia Pictures presents Zoe Cassevettes’ 2007 film debut Broken English, the delicate and absorbing, raw and honest story of a New York woman in her thirties stuck in a job she lacks heart for and tristful over the pursuit of love. The viewer empathizes with the harsh realities of a career oriented world where lovelessness remains a common theme. Parker Posey was incredibly casted in the leading role of Nora Wilder. We see a different side to her, one other than the dry humored comedic gal. She embodies this character and portrays it with frankness and genuine morality. At a co-workers party Nora meets Julien (Melvil Poupand), a frenchman who spends a weekend with her.
The title, Broken English, describes not only the slight language barrier between the two but also the being of Nora herself as a discontented American. I loved it in a I “hope I’m not completely alone at 35, but what if I am alone at 35, then I’m not alone being the only one alone, and maybe I’ll meet a sexy french man, but most likely I won’t meet a sexy french man, and so I’m just going to take a spontaneous trip to Paris” kind of way.
Successful as a professor and cultural critic, David Kepesh (Ben Kingsley) is brief and noncommittal in relationships with women because ”beautiful women are invisible… we are so dazzled by the outside we never make it in.” Ideals are altered by a magnetism Kepesh feels for the unique and radiant austerity of a student (Penelope Cruz) in one of his lectures. In “old age”, which Kepesh believes to be “the biggest surprise in a man’s life” he reflects on friendship, family, and most deeply, love.
Elegy is casted impeccably and the direction of Isabel Coixet is affecting.
Contrary to what you think a title like NIghts and Weekends might be about this movie does not involve divorce and the subject of child custody but rather it is about love and the struggles that go along with a long distance relationship. In theaters October 10th.
Mention Eat, Pray, Love and everyone nods their head in recognition. Introspectively, the journey of a woman is told who, after a divorce at age thirty-one, sojourns first to Rome for pleasure, then Mumbai for spirituality, and last to Bali in hopes to acquire a balance of both. The odyssey is honest and interacts with the reader in a meaningful, relating fashion. I was left inspired with an urgent need to find a guru of my own.
Aside from Elizabeth Gilbert’s spiritually prompting memoir, she has produced a handful of noteworthy pieces. Published in GQ magazine, her 1997 article “The Muse of the Coyote Ugly Saloon” speaks of a dive bar in Manhattan’s East Village where she worked as a bartender. It is also the basis for the movie Coyote Ugly. Gilbert’s collection of short stories, under the title Pilgrims, received the Pushcart Prize in 1997, followed by the novel Stern Men, chosen as a “notable book” by The New York Times.
Two years have past since the Eat, Pray, Love sensation hit the shelves and it continues to stir up attention. Paramount pictures is now on board, casting Julia Roberts to play Elizabeth Gilbert’s role.
“Une vieille maîtresse” or “The Last Mistress” portrays a captivating view on infidelity and the peril that passion inevitably brings. It is by far one of the sexiest movies I have set my eyes upon in quite some time. The french film is quite lengthy, but sultry scenes and the french language itself pulls you through to the end. When the lights come up you are left with your mind floating in steamy clouds and perhaps for some, you walk away with a certain (unspoken) feeling in your pants.
