Today I present Amour for your viewing consideration (2012, Rated PG-13, Available on DVD, In French With English Subtitles).
If you absolutely refuse to watch a movie with subtitles, then I give up on you. If you can't see the subtitles, then get a bigger TV. Do something. You have to conquer this problem. I mean it. You're missing out on a lot of great films if you won't watch something in a language that's foreign to you. I especially tend to like French movies, so becoming fluent in French is an option if you can't read the subtitles.
Georges (Jean-Louis Trintigant) and Anne (Emmanuelle Riva) are an elderly couple who live a vibrant and active life. They are retired music teachers who enjoy going to concerts. But then one morning Anne has a stroke. After a stay in the hospital, she comes home with Georges as her caregiver. Her mental and physical state decline rapidly, while Georges becomes exhausted and frustrated with his role. The rest? C'est tragique.
Amour is beautifully made. As Georges and Anne become increasingly housebound in their apartment, the feeling of claustrophobia, of oppressiveness, intensifies. Jennifer Lawrence, I'm sorry, but Emmanuelle Riva should have won the Academy Award for Best Actress. She's amazing. She's also the oldest person ever nominated for an Academy Award.
Because this movie is tragique, it's not easy to watch. Furthermore, at times I did something I've never done before while watching a French movie. I dozed off. I realize I just harangued you about watching foreign films, but no matter how well made Amour is, it's a bit of a snoozer. I'm going to watch it again sometime when I'm wide awake because I think I missed out on some important nuances the film has to offer.
Until I watch it again and make a final decision, Amour earns The Janie Junebug Seal of Ambiguity.
I've just made every single one of you reject this film, haven't I? I'm so ashamed. What do I know? You really should watch it to see what you think.
Don't be another cow in the herd. Moo!
Happy Viewing!
Infinities of love,
Janie Junebug
I adore foreign films
ReplyDeleteAnd missed this one on its release
A hard watch no doubt
But a necessary one
I'm so in love with you. Why must you be gay? I want a man who will work outside and get covered in shit and then clean up and watch a French movie with me.
DeleteI'll put this on our 'winter list' to watch. Sounds good and I don't mind subtitles at all if the movie 'grabs' me.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely a winter movie, with the characters in the winter of their lives.
DeleteHaha...the seal of ambiguity. I watch EVERYTHING with the subtitles on because my hearing sucks and if I don't have the subs on I miss half the dialogue. I would love to immerse myself in French films. I was force-fed French 1st-8th grade, then it was self-imposed in high school. But I've lost most of it. I'd love to pick it back up. My HS French teacher has lived next door to me for over a decade. You'd think I'd have asked her. Huh. Too bad I'm moving.
ReplyDelete-andi
I watch everything with subtitles, too, because I can't understand the dialog. I can hear it, but apparently not well enough because it makes no sense.
DeleteThis sounds really good, and I love subtitles, hey I like to read lol.
ReplyDeleteI'm thrilled because so many of you said you can handle subtitles. I usually get a bunch of comments saying, I won't watch anything with subtitles.
DeleteI haven't seen this movie although I've heard great things about it. I can handle subtitles if the story is good, which is no doubt true regarding this film.
ReplyDeleteI want to know what you think of it.
DeleteI've seen great movies that were subtitled.
ReplyDeleteYou, Sir, are a genius.
DeleteYou totally crack me up. Or not. I'm ambiguous. (Not really!)
ReplyDeleteOh, thanks for posting the review on Amazon! I really do appreciate it.
I think you followed me to John. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't mind subtitles at all. But not snoozer ones.
I followed you to John? Wait! Are you in love with him, too? Do we have to fight over which one of us will have him as a gay boyfriend? I think John followed me first and then I followed him back.
DeleteIt sounds like it might be worth viewing. Maybe. But I'm like you - I tend to doze off in ANY movie.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty rare for me to fall asleep during a movie. I was rather shocked at myself.
DeleteI once watched a Chinese film that was dubbed then watched it again in Chinese with English subtitles. It was like two different films, there was so much more story in the Chinese language version.
ReplyDeleteYeah. I never watch dubbed movies. They suck.
DeleteI am sorry this wont be my cup of tea. I dont like slow movies. If it dozed you off I am sure I will be snoring.
ReplyDeletewww.thoughtsofpaps.com
I understand. It is slow and depressing. I need to watch it again because I hope I can see the good in it.
DeleteI was thinking how I want to watch it later and then you mentioned snoozing. Then ambiguity. I'll still try to watch it. Sometime.
ReplyDeleteNo rush. Did you get my email about the editing? When I answered you at first, it was returned to me as undeliverable.
DeleteI'll watch it. I like films with subtitles, because then I get to test my knowledge of the foreign language.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy doing that, too. How much do I understand without the subtitles?
DeleteFunny you should write this. I am obsessed w/ all of the movies (WITH SUBTITLES) on Netflix. LOooooved the Swedish version of Girl With The Dragon TATTOO. Kicked Ass.
ReplyDeleteI shall def. check this one out and get back to you. Thanks. X
I didn't know there was a Swedish version of Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. I'll have to look for that. I liked that movie.
DeleteYour reply button never seems to work. I'm going to John's blog to see who got there first. It won't matter, though, side he has 700 followers or so and we're just buried among them.
ReplyDeleteHe gets so many comments. He's Mr. Popularity.
DeleteThis is already in my Netflix queue toward the top. I'm looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteBTW--the Swedish version of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo was the one I had seen first before they came out with the English version. I thought it was darker, grittier with even more tension--so liked the Swedish version with subtitles better.
Thanks, Rita. It's difficult to imagine that Dragon Tattoo could be even darker and grittier, so I look forward to the Swedish version.
DeleteI have to give you credit... Not many people would have the balls to write a review on a movie they napped through! Sounds like you got the important stuff to me though! Lol!
ReplyDeleteP.s. it's "Lil Dreamer" from Reality Challenged.
Lil Dreamer! I had no idea you had a name other than Lil Dreamer. It's nice to hear from you. If I have anything, it's balls, but I didn't really nap through the movie. I just dozed off once or twice and had to go back to see what I missed, which wasn't much.
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