Review of Certified Copy (2010) by Thomas W — 29 Mar 2011

Certified Copy is that film for cinephiles who want a talkie-talkie movie every once in a while that has nothing to do with explosions, car chases or bank robberies. The film, by Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami, is in Italian, French and English .

.. the majority of it being in English as one of the main characters is a British author. Juliette Binoche (The English Patient, Chocolat,Dan in Real Life) plays an owner of a small art galler in a non-named Italian city in Tuscany.

William Shimell plays the best-selling British author who arrives in her town to give a lecture whom she wishes to meet as they have similar interests in art. The two meet up after his lecture and they take a drive across the Tuscan countryside (gorgeous shots here) and stroll the streets and buildings of old Italy.

Not much happens other than they two talking about art and family and money and happiness etc. This is a relationship movie about two strangers who might be kindred spirits and it is interesting to watch to witness the developing relationship as the two talk like old friends and/or family members but then squabble like any pair of sensible, stubborn adult(s).

The title refers to the subject of Shimell's book and a painting hanging nearby that Binoche takes him to see: it is an "original copy" of an original work ... meaning that it, too, was a piece of art painted by looking at the original centuries earlier (it is nothing like today's reproductions).

The film sadly becomes dated because of a single line of dialogue referring to the sitting source of the Mona Lisa -- which was just brought-up into a whole new discussion just over a month ago. But .

.. that doesn't really matter. It is a talkie-talk-talk film with no explosions. While it is full of intelligent conversation, that isn't a reason for one to see or avoid this film as smart dialogue can be found in any number of films (Pulp Fiction, Mean Girls etc.

); but if one hates either Europe, accents, art or country drives ... they should avoid this film like a trip to the local gallery. It is a pretty, highly oberservant and thoughtful piece of work. Just as with any piece of art -- it'll have its fans and it'll have its haters.