Review of The City of Your Final Destination (2009) by Tammy M — 30 Apr 2010

A young college professor (Omar Metwally) travels to Uruguay hoping to persuade the heirs of a deceased novelist to let him write an authorized biography of the writer. A Merchant Ivory production (without Merchantâ??s input), the film looks great (James Ivory directs), itâ??s an interesting location, and on paper itâ??s a strong cast, (Anthony Hopkins, Laura Linney, Charlotte Gainsbourg), but the story never takes flight.

It has an intriguing first act, and the central idea is plenty interesting, but very little happens after Omar arrives in Uruguay. The second and third acts falter. Anthony Hopkins is the most comfortable and believable in his role as the brother of the author, and it helps that more of his character is revealed as the story unfolds; everyone else stays fairly static and remote.

I generally like Laura Linneyâ??s work in other projects very much but her performance in this film is awkward, largely because the material is weak. Omar is at the center of the movie but, unfortunately, he does not bring much intrigue or heat to the party (he is not a skilled or compelling actor).

Omar and Charlotte G. fall for each other, and their budding romance should be a driving force in the narrative, but the romance is poorly realized and, in the end, we donâ??t care if it happens or not.

The movie presents a strong set-up, an inconsequential middle, and a disjointed, disappointing resolution. Ruth Prawer Jhabvala adapted Peter Cameron's novel.