Review of In the Mood for Love (2000) by Dfw F — 30 Sep 2009

This is the story of Mrs. Chan (Man-Yuk) Maggie Cheung and Mr. Chow (Chiu-Wa) (played by Tony Leung, awarded best actor at Cannes, 2000) who rent rooms from two families in Hong Kong. Mrs. Chan and Mr. Chow turn to each other for consolement for their unfaithful spouses.

The claustrophobia of their living situation and work is shot with intricate framing of the settings and minimal movement of characters, often in slow motion, crossing the square grids like blurs of animus. If the plot wears thin on you, you can always savor a skewed shoe as Galassonâ??s strings send shivers up your spine. You can meditate on the dresses of Mrs. Chan), all high neck, with short sleeves, a tightly fitted bodice, and a multitude of different motifs and fabrics. You can gaze on Mr. slicked back hair, his cool and crisp white office dress shirts, and polished black shoes. You can wonder if they ever had sex at all in the room Mr. Chow eventually rents in order to write. in the mood for love (BE sure and see my 4 or 5 lists of foreign film nominated for best Oscar foreign film (listed by year) In the Mood For Love--somber understated and just plain boring. the slice of life look at Hong Kong 1962 is interesting but this movie just does not go anywhere. I empathize with the couple but maybe not enough to even finish the movie. The art and set direction are beautiful. Leung in the main lead was good but an Canne win for this role? I agree with other that stated "the film just left me empty" I re watched this movie 08/16/09 again in its entirety.(all 97 minutes seemed like 5 hours) Again this film just bored me. boring boring boring.two stars.