Amelie

Rating:
Summary: more Austen, less Avery
Review: "One of my first loves was cartoons," Mr. Jeunet said. With his spiky hair, stubble- covered moon face and impish smile, he looks like
a cuddlier, chubbier version of the British artist Damien Hirst. "In fact, my first short films were experiments with animation," he said.
This influence is palpable in every frame of "Amélie," which frequently resembles a live-action homage to the cartoonist Tex Avery.
-'Amélie': Going Sweet and Sentimental Has Its Rewards (Daniel Zalewski, 10/28/01, NY Times)

Though overcute, overlong, and overcontrived, this film has such an appealing star (Audrey Tautou), tries so hard to please, and is so unexpectedly sunny (coming from France), that its flaws can be forgiven. But at least two of those flaws are worth noting. The first is that the cartoonishness mentioned above makes it seem as if the director is trying to distance himself from the romanticism and sweetness of his own film. This unfortunate failure of nerve leads to a kind of self-contradictory effect, as the Tex Avery touches get wheeled out every time Mr. Jeunet seems to be embarrassed by the sentimentality of a situation he's just presented. This may help him keep his credibility with his fellow French filmmakers but necessarily weakens what should be some of the films finer moments. Still, if you're willing to get in the cartoon spirit they won't bother you too much.

The more serious problem concerns a quintessentially French, or at least European, aspect of the plot. The film, like Clueless, represents a modern take on Jane Austen's Emma, with its story of a young woman meddling in the love lives of those around her. However, while Emma is one of the most underrated political novels of all time precisely because it shows the disastrous results of Emma's what we might call central planning, Amélie assumes that such interventions would have uniformly happy results. Oddly enough for such an otherwise whimsical movie it betrays the flaw of rationality, in its conceit that those things which Amelie can imagine would work out well continually do so. In fact, Mr. Jeunet says that people have told him that he inspired them to become Amélies themselves. One shudders to think of these film-addled Frenchwomen roaming the land fixing up peoples' lives the way they think they should be. Mr. Jeunet and his followers would do well to recall the words of the great Eric Hoffer :

A man is likely to mind his own business when it is worth minding. When it is not, he takes his mind off his own meaningless affairs
by minding other people's business.

This, though Mr. Jeunet seems to have missed it, must be the point even of his own film. The inherent drama lies in Amelie's attempt to fill her own empty life, which if we really had the godlike powers she improbably demonstrates might not be so empty. But since we don't and since we are ultimately not really either responsible for nor competent to govern the lives of others, the plot of the film has to build to the moment when Amélie herself embraces the possibility of love.

Ms Tautou is so compelling an actress that we do indeed rejoice when this moment comes, and we have a pleasant enough time along the way. But Mr. Jeunet needlessly lessens the tension with both his Bugs Bunny antics and his gallic certainty that our lives can be run better for us by others than we run them ourselves. If only he'd imbibed the lessons of Jane Austen as deeply as those of Tex Avery it would be an even better picture.

GRADE : B+

Rating:
Summary: i hated this movie
Review: Since there is no "goodness" except into people's minds, the whole idea of the movie tuns into pieces. A predominance of female supporters can easily be explained in the archetype of womanhood Amelie portrays. This is the ONLY plus in the movie. Accordingly, the average woman is utterly irrational and in order to avert responsibility of hers own acts, she typically sees herself as victim. To strengthen this self-indulgent image, she seeks company of other "victims" and frequently involves into "humanitarian" acts. The difference between Amelie and factual reality consists in HOW MUCH the victim-character is working to convey its true nature. Amelie is CRUCIADING against normality. She thinks having the right of intruding people's lives, being backed with such insight truly shameful not being shared with the rest of us, the poor unenlightened. She might be broadly classified as a crossover between the preaching evangelical and infamous "civil rights activist". (It's probably unnecessary to remind you how much I hate these sorry shacks of humans.)

Outside of these considerations, Amelie is extremely long, absolutely boring, pleading for the beauty of ignorance devoid of responsibility, cheaply sentimental and FINALLY filled with recycled religion and postmodern rubbish.

Rating:
Summary: A Charming film, a Fine Picture, & eye candy to boot!
Review: This is one delightful film. And it is delightful for a number of reasons. The leading characters have considerable charm. The plot is pleasing, satisfying, and even cute. The film provides a lovely view of Paris (particularly Montmartre). The color is a sensual treat. The cinematography is audacious. But ooh, the color!

The film is a worthy successor to some of the surrealistic films of the French tradition. At one at the same time it is an adventure in realism and a peregrination through the dream state.

The subtitles do not get in the way of the film. They're carefully done.

AND.....the film depicts one of my own favorite themes in film...healing. Thanks to Amelie's impish plots, broken people get better, and happiness comes closer for all.

In just about every respect, this is a must see film!

Rating:
Summary: Amelie
Review: Amelie has to be one of the best movies I have seen in my entire life! I rented it for my sister, but she talked me into watching it with her (after she had already watched it 4 times in 2 days!!). When I rented it, I totally didnt think I would fall completely in love with it. Amelie, the main character, is so wonderful! She's so sweet and simple, and you cant help but completely love her! I also greatly enjoyed the fact that it was a foreign film. Foreign films are always so interesting and creative. The color and lighting were also incredible. I would recomend this movie to ANYONE! YES, men you will like it also! My boyfriend watched it with me and he liked it so much, he asked to borrow it!! I truly believe Amelie is a movie that everyone needs to see. It is absoulty AMAZING!! Enjoy the show!!

Rating:
Summary: Destiny and Fate with a Little Help
Review: Amelie is one of those movies that once you have watched it, you feel somehow that the world is different. This movie will make you laugh and make the heart warm as you watch the beautiful Amelie try to help people do things that they might not or could not do. But at the same time she is the one who is looking for something in her life. Oh and the way that she meets that person, the ride was well worth the price of admission.

Purchase or Rent this movie now, you will not be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Greatest Movies
Review: The first time I saw this movie, I left smiling. I looked around at the rest of the audience and could tell that everyone felt like I did. I took everyone I knew to the theater to see this movie, and everyone felt the same. It is not a girl movie or a boy movie. It's about anyone who appreciates life, or needs to.

The DVD is amazing. It comes in a wonderful package that can show a grown or young Amélie. Not only is it a visually stimulating package inside and out, but the 2 disc set comes complete with a very enjoyable commentary (can you say you've sat through any other commentary besides the Simpsons?) and the audition tapes are worth the DVD on their own. I won't waste your time telling you what's on this DVD, since it tells you below. I'll just tell you that if you have a DVD player or plan to get one, get this DVD.

If you don't, get the VHS, because this film will make you feel a goodness that won't leave you.

Rating:
Summary: Those who dont like it - just dont get it
Review: For those people who have written horrible reviews, it is obvious that you are sadly missing... something. A film is not a philosophical discourse - SO RELAX! This is a beautifully charming and sweet fairy tale, nothing more, and certainly nothing less. I will agree, it needed more character development - but the French don't care what you or I think - so enjoy the momentary diversion, poor yourself and a bordeaux, grab a pillow and curl up and be transported.

To that poor reviewer who though she was a mute... perhaps you would enjoy chris rock or something else a little, je sais pas qoui.
Vive L'Amelie!

Rating:
Summary: The movie that makes you HAPPY
Review: Everything is in the title of the review, this movie makes you the happiest person in the world. A formidable example of movies made in Europe. You'll love the actress, you'll love the story, you'll love the whole atmosphere... 5 nominations for the Oscars, a lot of rewards all over the world (France, England, Italy, Spain, Germany, Japan ....). 2 Hours of pure happiness, simply.

Rating:
Summary: A must see.
Review: If you have lost faith in film over the past few years, take heart. This film is a keeper! It is sweet, mesmerizing, and a sheer joy to watch. Audrey Tautou is adorable!!! She will steal your heart.

Rating:
Summary: I wish I could give Amelie 10 stars
Review: I'm not the type of person to cry during a movie but by the end of Amelie I was on the verge of tears. The movie's hopeful message is so uncommon in anything in life much less in the movies that I felt genuinely moved.