My Wife Is an Actress

Rating:
Summary: Even though the French don't understand comedy...
Review: I always give them a shot at it when I see a new movie billed as one. Comedy to the French, I think, means ennui as opposed to angst. No matter, I still find allure in the French "experience," so to speak. I didn't find this movie nearly as droll as the first two reviewers; in fact, I found the the nuances of the relationship intriguing rather than boring. No, this isn't a knee-slapper. But, it has its moments. There is subtle humor, based on circumstance rather than forced plot gimmicks. It's because it isn't typical in-your-face American fare that I recommend it. The French are so French, and that's what makes their relationship tales so odd, so foreign, so bittersweet and all the more thought provoking. (Plus, Yvan is so hot as the humiliated voyeur to his wife's fame.)

Rating:
Summary: Perfectly Nice, But...
Review: I had trouble sustaining much interest in Yvan Attal's "My Wife Is an Actress", a kind-of-not-really autobiographical film about a sportswriter, Yvan (Attal), married to famous actress Charlotte (Charlotte Gainsbourg, Attal's real-life wife). The film purports to tell about what it's like being married to a well-known actress, yet I could never develop much sympathy for, or rapport with, the characters. I just didn't care much about Yvan and Charlotte, though they seemed perfectly nice; I just never felt like I got to know them very well. I enjoyed the subplot involving Yvan's sister, Nathalie, and her husband Vincent much more, though I couldn't really figure out what the connection was between the two storylines. Oh well; quite honestly, I didn't spend much time thinking about it. And that's the problem.

Rating:
Summary: Perfectly Nice, But...
Review: I had trouble sustaining much interest in Yvan Attal's "My Wife Is an Actress", a kind-of-not-really autobiographical film about a sportswriter, Yvan (Attal), married to famous actress Charlotte (Charlotte Gainsbourg, Attal's real-life wife). The film purports to tell about what it's like being married to a well-known actress, yet I could never develop much sympathy for, or rapport with, the characters. I just didn't care much about Yvan and Charlotte, though they seemed perfectly nice; I just never felt like I got to know them very well. I enjoyed the subplot involving Yvan's sister, Nathalie, and her husband Vincent much more, though I couldn't really figure out what the connection was between the two storylines. Oh well; quite honestly, I didn't spend much time thinking about it. And that's the problem.

Rating:
Summary: delightful - an escape from Hollywood
Review: I really enjoyed this film. The story itself was nothing extraordinary, but it embodied the lovely sensitivity of French cinema. I liked it because it gave me a glance of French or European film industry that was so different from the glittery Hollywood. The actress in the film was portrayed as a real, sensible and normal person. I also realized after watching the film that the main characters were a real life couple and the husband was the director, which added another interesting layer to it. They did not even change their names in the film! I really liked the human qualities of this kind of production in comparison to the manufactured qualities of many commercial films. I felt that it was a collaboration of a group of young people whom were working with a modest budget. However, they have done a great job with the limited resources because they had something to say and they knew how to say it well. It was really about making art than making a product.

Rating:
Summary: Light French comedy
Review: In the film "My Wife is an Actress," Yvan and Charlotte (played by real-life husband and wife team Yvan Attal and Charlotte Gainsbourg) are a successful Parisian couple. Yvan is a sports reporter, and Charlotte is a famous actress. Charlotte is famous enough to be recognised everywhere the couple go--and this lack of privacy annoys Yvan. A crisis in their relationship occurs when Charlotte makes a film in London with a famous but world-weary co-star (played by Terence Stamp.) Yvan's jealousy and insecurities are pushed to the limit, and Charlotte's patience is sorely tested.

The film was easy to watch, light, and amusing. However, while the story dabbled with the serious issues of jealousy, fidelity, and trust, it did little more than touch on the subjects. The main characters flirted with the deeper issues and brushed them aside with little evaluation, so that the crisis in the marriage--and indeed it was a crisis, is played as little more than a burp.

As an overall package, the film was pleasant enough--however, I couldn't really accept the light treatment of the subject matter, and I found the film somewhat unsatisfying as a result.

Rating:
Summary: Light French comedy
Review: In the film "My Wife is an Actress," Yvan and Charlotte (played by real-life husband and wife team Yvan Attal and Charlotte Gainsbourg) are a successful Parisian couple. Yvan is a sports reporter, and Charlotte is a famous actress. Charlotte is famous enough to be recognised everywhere the couple go--and this lack of privacy annoys Yvan. A crisis in their relationship occurs when Charlotte makes a film in London with a famous but world-weary co-star (played by Terence Stamp.) Yvan's jealousy and insecurities are pushed to the limit, and Charlotte's patience is sorely tested.

The film was easy to watch, light, and amusing. However, while the story dabbled with the serious issues of jealousy, fidelity, and trust, it did little more than touch on the subjects. The main characters flirted with the deeper issues and brushed them aside with little evaluation, so that the crisis in the marriage--and indeed it was a crisis, is played as little more than a burp.

As an overall package, the film was pleasant enough--however, I couldn't really accept the light treatment of the subject matter, and I found the film somewhat unsatisfying as a result.

Rating:
Summary: C'mon guys, it's a cute film...
Review: Ok, my subject was just a remark on what the other two reviewers (at the time I wrote this review) wrote. This film really isn't that bad. Maybe it helped that I didn't know Yvan Attal's real life is a basis for the movie's plot, and that Charlotte Gainsbourgh is in real life Attal's wife. I must admit that the whole crux of the story, Yvan's jealousy of Charlotte and John, is about as stable as a house built with a deck of cards. It all starts with a stranger pressing Yvan with questions on what it's like being married to such a celebrity. The plot is quite juvenile, but this is a French film! It's bound to contain something je ne se quois -- weird.

I personally found this film to have several memorable scenes and I really liked the lighthearted tone taken by the film. It's no Amelie, but the acting as well as the Paris scenery were great!

LEAP rating (each out of 5):
============================
L (Language) - 4 (accurately subtitled)
E (Erotica) - 3.5 (full male/female frontal shots)
A (Action) - 0 (n/a)
P (Plot) - 3 (simple tale of actress' husband getting jealous)

Rating:
Summary: A Charming, If Not Light Film
Review: Overall, I found this movie to a charming romantic comedy, albeit one that is pretty lacking in overall plot. Charlotte Gainsbourg plays herself, a French movie star, who's husband (real life husband) Yvan Attal is having a hard time adjusting to his wife's noteriety. As he descends into the depths of jealousy, we are given a somewhat funny and interesting look into the mind of a man who at once loves his wife, but at the same time despises the fact that she will always be in the spotlight of both the public and the movie industry. The actors performances were great, especially Attal, who does a great job being both the comical and desparate husband. Also, watch for Ludivine Sagnier (of 8 Femmes and others) in a small role as a woman who causes Yvan to question his committment. Overall, it's a great movie for those looking for a light weight romantic comedy. Although a bit short on plot, the strong acting and great writing help to overcome this.

Rating:
Summary: If You Liked Pretty Woman...
Review: Then you'd probably love this movie.
Not much in terms of plot construction, vague character development and shoddy resolution. All in all it has the makings of a great Hollywood remake.
Oh, but dig the train- they must have spent a fortune on first class tickets! (actually, I'm sure it was all studio shot except for the exterior scenes)

Rating:
Summary: A light popcorn movie with little delights throughout
Review: This is a well-written and well-acted light comedy that goes back and forth between London and Paris, where the two protagonists (real-life husband and wife Yvan and Charlotte) are dealing with jealousy, art and the way life swings too quickly between the light and the heavy. Lots of fun little subplots, and beautifully lit and competently directed. If you're trying to learn French as I am, you'll also appreciate the dialogue -- quick, casual, real.