I'm with Sullivan...
WARNING: "Amelie" spoilers below
...it wasn't really necessary to have her jump into bed with this guy right away. It didn't feel anywhere near consistent with the rest of the story, or her character. Now, I imagine someone is going to jump in with "That's the point...it isn't like her at all," but there's a way to change for the better, and a way to change for the worse. The fact that she had sex with someone she's barely even spoken to, fairly-tale or not, just tainted it. The scene was touching nonetheless, though.
...it wasn't really necessary to have her jump into bed with this guy right away. It didn't feel anywhere near consistent with the rest of the story, or her character. Now, I imagine someone is going to jump in with "That's the point...it isn't like her at all," but there's a way to change for the better, and a way to change for the worse. The fact that she had sex with someone she's barely even spoken to, fairly-tale or not, just tainted it. The scene was touching nonetheless, though.
On the whole, of course, I loved this film. I don't think I can tell you why. I don't like it in any tangible way. I'll try, however, to explain my feelings on the matter...
The movie was wonderfully cast and the subtitles didn't bother me at all (which is a testament to the film's power...subtitles can make it all-too-difficult to forget that you're in a theater). I rather liked the layer of abstraction that the French provided. Don't ask me why.
Like everyone else, I'll sing Audrey Tautou's praises. She definitely had the "still a little girl at heart" attitude down pat. Kind of like someone else I know.
The little games she plays are, I imagine, designed to induce both frustration and amusement in us. Amusement in how childlike they are, and frustration at the fact that she won't simply do what virtually any of us would: simply walk up to the person.
This, of course, makes the end a sort of release, or relief, of the pressure that was slowly, quietly building for most of the film. I loved the way it was executed.
In terms of comedy, I found the film surprisingly funny. I laughed, primarily, early on. The "he likes this...he doesn't like that" routine was brilliant. I'm sure more than one of us felt the urge to say "I like that, too!" I thought it was exceedingly clever. The opening, in my opinion, is the most well-made portion of the entire film. By the time it's ended you have, after five minutes or so, become entirely emotionally attached to the titular character. It was amazing.
The only REAL disagreement I can find with any of you is in regards to the mood of the movie: I did NOT find it overwhelmingly happy through and through. I found it surprisingly sad early on. This isn't a bad thing, of course, but until the end, I didn't think of it as highly cheery...just highly enthralling. Seeing her walking around her small apartment...alone...invoked a very paternal, protective instinct in me. I felt pity for her.
All in all, I found this to be one of the best films I've seen all year. I suspect I'll take the time to watch it again before long. A lovely, lovely film. I feel like a better person for having seen it.
Reply to Topic
