Review of I've Loved You So Long (2008) by Matthew I — 28 Sep 2009

Man, this was a really good movie.... At first, it had two strikes against it immediately for me: first, it's French. I don't know, I've never actually seen a lot of French films, but the ones I have seen have actually been pretty good.

So, not much of a problem. Second, it looked very Drama, interpersonal "ish." Some reviewers call them "chick flicks" as it were. Again, not inherently a bad thing. Some of my favorite movies are of that genre: Sleepless in Seattle, When Harry Met Sally, Little Children is awesome.

........ummmmm. All right, that's it for the moment, but if the acting is good, if the script is good, and it's a tearjerker Drama; I'm there - or try to be at least. So, this movie, "I've Loved You So Long," actually sucked me in pretty early and did a great job of just telling an interesting story, and getting us (the viewers) to a point of actual concern and wondering on what will actualy happen to the main character (Kristin Scott Thomas).

The story goes is she has been a way for a while, and the story revolves around her trying to come back into graces with her sister and her sister's family. What is really interesting about her story and why she's been away is because she's been away at prison for 15 years for Murder.

Man, that is a great twist isn't it? I won't tell you who she murdered, but actually there is a fantastic twist at the end regarding this plot line which also makes the movie that much more intriguing.

The acting is superb; Kristen Scott Thomas is just awesome as the Sister who shows up and tries to conform to society, her sister's family, and the working world, after being in prison for 15 years.

She struggles with everything - finding as job, gainig the trust of her sister's family, getting into a relationship.... It's just hard watching her try to fit in again, and she just knocks it out of the park acting-wise.

The sister with the family is fine (Else Zylberstein), and the direction is not really important in this kind of movie, because the focus is on the actors so much. Actually, I wonder if this was a play originally.

Anyway, good movie; check it out.....