Review of Chéri (2009) by Lindy L — 11 Jul 2009
A self-professed "literary adaptation" admirer and fan of director Stephen Frears, I said I would watch this type of film despite any bad word of mouth, etc. as a regular habit, I don't read reviews till after viewing the film in question.
Screenwriter christopher hampton and frears got "dangerous liaisons" down so right in the late 1980s but this film adaptation of Colette's tale of an aging courtesan's bid for love with a much younger man fails spectacularly. And by "spectacularly," I mean the film is beautifully shot in every way - production design, costumes, locales - but lacks greatly the "emotional life" of their previous French literary sourced collaboration.
For the most part, pfeiffer is a good fit for her role as lea, the gracefully aging woman of pleasure. rupert friend as her young lover, "cheri" - son of her colleague "in the profession", madame pelloux (played with a faux, unflappable haughtiness by kathy bates?), is man-child petulance and "kept man" boy toy personified but there is no heat, tension, or passion convincingly conveyed between the two in question.
The story is just merely "efficient" in its "going through the motions" (read: boring). okay, where is malkovich when you need him :).
This review of Chéri (2009) was written by Lindy L on 11 Jul 2009.
Chéri has generally received mixed reviews.
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