Review of Youth (2015) by Tony P — 04 Feb 2016

Mediocre is how I would describe this film in one word.

The film directed by Paolo Sorrentino is primarily based in a Swiss health spa beneath the Alps. Picturesque yes but quite boring.

The film has two old guys as the central characters. Fred Ballinger (Michael Caine) and Mick Boyle (Harvey Keitel).

The best friends bide their slow paced, idyllic lives by having private bets, reminescing old sexual conquests and comparing prostate issues.

Ballinger is a retired orchestra conducter and Boyle is a still active film director.

I was attracted to the film by the relatively all-star cast including Rachel Weisz and a cameo by Paloma Faith.

However at least half an hour could have been cut to speed up the dreary pace.

Ballinger is hounded for want of a better word by HM The Queen to come out of retirement and perform his 'Simple Songs?'.

The locations do not make up for the shortcomings that I have addressed and I was left disappointed.