Review of In the Mood for Love (2000) by Jami B — 30 May 2009

I expected to be raving about this film, but after thinking about it overnight my predominant thought is..well not a lot really.

This film has a very French feel to it, but the long lingering shots, mainly of Maggie Cheung's legs and bum, irritated rather than excited. There is no denying she's a devastatingly beautiful woman, but the change of dress for every scene was simply pointless, and distracting.

What I did find fascinating was the social aspect of the film. Kar wai totally captured the feel of early 60's Hong Kong, and a way of life that has mostly gone, I'm sure to the relief of most. But I'm afraid the badly spoken Spanish singing, and barely there sexual tension didn't quite grab me like Claude Sautet's Nelly and Mr Arnaud.

Maybe I missed the point.