BOOK CLUB

Diane Keaton     Jane Fonda     Candice Bergen     Mary Steenburgen

Andy Garcia     Craig T. Nelson     Don Johnson     Richard Dreyfuss

     This bit of froth proceeds just about as expected, given the cast and the topic. Older women do daring things and after ups and downs, (almost) everything turns out groovy in the end. The characters are rather stereotypical, except maybe for Vivian (Fonda), who chose career over marriage and has become a wealthy woman.  Sharon (Bergen) is a Federal judge who’s been divorced for 18 years.  Diane (Keaton) lost her husband a year ago, and has two daughters who are rushing her into the grave and overly parenting her, or trying to.  Carol (Steenburgen) is happily married to Bruce (Nelson), but he has shut down since his retirement.  Their relationship needs a shot or something in the you-know-where.  

     The four women have been friends for years, their connection currently centering on their book club.  Vivian decides to spice things up, and when it’s her turn to choose the book, she passes around E. L. James’ Fifty Shades of Grey.  Her friends are horrified, but each one (guiltily) charges through it, and it seems to have a unique effect on each one, egged along by more frank discussions about how the women really see each other.  Basically they all need to get out more, out of their particular rut.  Sharon is prompted to go to an online dating site; Diane piques a fellow traveler’s interest by reading her book on the plane, after she has literally fallen into his lap getting into her seat; and Carol tries sexual come-ons in the book to arouse Bruce’s interest.  Vivian doesn’t “try” anything; she is convinced she has found the key to happiness.  Then an old school chum, Arthur (Johnson), surfaces and begins provoking her.

     Bill Holderman (director and co-writer with Erin Simms) has created a crowd pleaser (going by the reactions of the audience in the screening I attended) that contains sit-com humor, predictable complications, and a fanciful ending. Another idealistic treatment is reflected in the highly attractive appearances of most of the characters—certainly the women, and arguably for the men, as there was audible panting when Andy Garcia appeared.  

     There is little of substance in the story; the best dialog comes toward the end when the friends become more open and realin their conversations.  But for the most part, the story is more pie-in-the- sky than anything based on reality.  The best part of the movie is seeing the abundantly talented well-cast actresses doing what they do best—acing their roles as written for them.  If only the writers had opted to portray a more realistic picture of this stage in a woman’s life; I assure you, it would contain many more shadings and nuances, and likely be a much more interesting film.

A rather skewed, fanciful view of the lives of women past a certain age.

Grade:  C                                                By Donna R. Copeland

YOUTH

Michael Caine   Harvey Keitel   Rachel Weisz   Paul Dano   Jane Fonda   Alex Macqueen

          Youth is an artistic production by the poetic writer/director Paolo Sorrentino (The Great Beauty), who reminds of fellow Italian Federico Fellini in his imagery and talent for making what normally seems ugly into something of beauty and interest.  In this film, aged as well as young bodies are presented; wrinkles, potbellies, sagging breasts, gorgeous shapely figures, crippled, handsome—all are dished out liberally without photographic judgment. 

           But the film has points to make, lots of them.  Points about physical and mental aging, fathers and mothers—especially fathers—cinema vs. television, how we come to understand the world and people, desire vs. apathy, regret, fidelity, and decisions to make about endings.  All the characters seem to be in turmoil (except perhaps the meditating monk), captured eloquently by the cacophony in a cuckoo shop where a character has gone around and turned them all on at once.

          The setting is an elegant old-world hotel in Switzerland where many of its guests have been coming annually for years.  Fred (Caine), a famed orchestra leader, and Mick (Keitel), a well-known movie director, are old friends who voice much of the film’s sentiments about aging and perspectives on their own lives.  They trust each other up to a point; that is, “We only talk about the good things.”  Yet, they do explore certain regrets and disappointments and Fred desperately wants to know if Mick ever slept with a girl they both loved.  Fred’s daughter Lena (Weisz) is married to Mick’s son Julian (Ed Stoppard), which makes another bond between them.  Each is subject to pressures coming from the outside.  The Queen of England wants the reluctant and apathetic Fred to conduct his famous “Simple Songs” for Prince Philip’s birthday celebration.  Mick, ever the optimist, is trying to get his movie Testament off the ground and is waiting for its star Brenda (Fonda) to arrive and producers’  go-ahead to start filming.  He and the screenwriter still have to come up with an ending, though.

          Youth is made in the European style of slower pacing, philosophical discussions, and subtle humor, metaphors, and allusions, which make it a film well worth seeing multiple times.  It’s full of surprises as characters behave in unexpected ways, yet remains firmly grounded in reflecting real dramas. 

          Caine and Keitel are masters at what they do and keep us thoroughly captivated as they talk about their lives.  Weisz as the daughter of Caine’s character has the greatest emotionality to convey, and it’s engaging to hear her perspective of her family life growing up contrasted with her father’s.  Fonda has a wonderful cameo as an aging actress turning the tables on her director in years of films.  Since the actress is known for her smooth skin and physical fitness, it’s fascinating to see her in this role. 

          Sorrentino’s colleagues in music (David Lang) and cinematography (Luca Bigazzi) measure up to his creativity and excellence in their own specialties.  All three have produced a comprehensive production that merges the disciplines seamlessly into a work of visual and auditory art.

Go on vacation to an opulent hotel in Switzerland where you will be entertained with intelligent conversation, fascinating stories, and spectacular landscapes, all accompanied by delightful and entrancing music.

Grade:  A                        By Donna R. Copeland