Review of Youth Without Youth (2007) by Jake L — 27 Mar 2008

Wow. I don't really understand why the critics were unkind to this one, because I loved it. Francis Ford Coppola hasn't made a movie in ten years, but it's easy to see why he wanted to make this one.

Tim Roth stars an as aged man on the verge of suicide who inexplicably survives when lightning strikes him and has his youth restored. What follows is a deep philosophical journey as he gets a second chance to finish his life's work about the origins of human language.

It also has elements of a tense thriller -- he must escape Nazi persuers who intend to experiment on him -- and a tender love story as he tries to recconcile with loss years ago of his one true love. All of this is beautifully shot and tightly paced, and the film will really make you think.

If you can find it, by all means see it; according to Box Office Mojo, its widest theatrical release has been in 18 theaters. With as much manure getting ultrawide releases as we have now, it surprises and disappoints me that the man who directed The Godfather can't get his new movie released to more than 18 screens.

But that's another rant. It's a really good movie, and challenging too. I can't wait to see it again on Blu-ray in a few months. Highly reccomended!