← Back to Reviews
in
This is my 2nd time watching this movie. All it consists of are 2 middle aged men who work in theater, sitting down for dinner at a posh restaurant, discussing life and feeling awake or alive. There are many great moments that touch on very important topics relating to the human condition. There isn't another movie like this one, and I'm not sure there ever could be one as sincere or well done.
I happened upon a Criterion blu ray disc of this in a 3 pack set which features all of the Wallace Shawn ("inconceivable!") and Andre Gregory collaborations. The picture looked like a woolen blanket, or a painting. The grain seems to indicate a 16mm print blown up, and the detail of everything is so integrated into this grain that I felt as if I was watching a charcoal sketch at some points. It had a very pleasant look that made it an enjoyable second viewing.
I have to say that things don't really start to get into gear until about an hour into the two hour run time, and that's OK. The set-up is long and sometimes tedious, but absolutely necessary. This is essentially an action film done with dialog. The performances don't often fall victim to cutaways and instead play out as a continuous shot which makes one aware of the amount of energy and poise achieved by these two men. Gregory, in particular, is a monster at his delivery. Every word he says, whether matter of factly or fever pitched is done so with such an eloquent tongue that I couldn't help but feel like I was being read a bed time story.
The men enjoy small portions of over priced food talking about the differences between complacent living and going to artistic extremes to achieve a sense of being. Shawn argues for complacency and a sense of purpose, while Gregory quilt jobs an exotic spiritual pilgrimage laced with absurd acts of communal ritual. In the end, it is all about living in fear. Fear of failure, fear of being alone, fear of not moving, not speaking, for of oneself.
It really is a beautiful film that requires an open mind.
My thoughts while watching it...
MY DINNER WITH ANDRE (1981)
Director: Louis Malle
Director: Louis Malle
This is my 2nd time watching this movie. All it consists of are 2 middle aged men who work in theater, sitting down for dinner at a posh restaurant, discussing life and feeling awake or alive. There are many great moments that touch on very important topics relating to the human condition. There isn't another movie like this one, and I'm not sure there ever could be one as sincere or well done.
I happened upon a Criterion blu ray disc of this in a 3 pack set which features all of the Wallace Shawn ("inconceivable!") and Andre Gregory collaborations. The picture looked like a woolen blanket, or a painting. The grain seems to indicate a 16mm print blown up, and the detail of everything is so integrated into this grain that I felt as if I was watching a charcoal sketch at some points. It had a very pleasant look that made it an enjoyable second viewing.
I have to say that things don't really start to get into gear until about an hour into the two hour run time, and that's OK. The set-up is long and sometimes tedious, but absolutely necessary. This is essentially an action film done with dialog. The performances don't often fall victim to cutaways and instead play out as a continuous shot which makes one aware of the amount of energy and poise achieved by these two men. Gregory, in particular, is a monster at his delivery. Every word he says, whether matter of factly or fever pitched is done so with such an eloquent tongue that I couldn't help but feel like I was being read a bed time story.
The men enjoy small portions of over priced food talking about the differences between complacent living and going to artistic extremes to achieve a sense of being. Shawn argues for complacency and a sense of purpose, while Gregory quilt jobs an exotic spiritual pilgrimage laced with absurd acts of communal ritual. In the end, it is all about living in fear. Fear of failure, fear of being alone, fear of not moving, not speaking, for of oneself.
It really is a beautiful film that requires an open mind.
My thoughts while watching it...