Fantastic French Thriller
Added 10/4/2009
This is Juliette Binoche and John Turturro at their best. Binoche is enthralling with the NY edge she's developed for this character and then easily slides back into her French one with her usual charm, grace and beauty.
Turturro is a wonderful raving lunatic that makes you quake to the bone, even knowing your safe with him just being on screen. Enjoyed the characters tremendously, right down to the Nolte cameo ending appearance.
With the things we all know our government and the CIA are capable of and does, the plot is very believable, since we all know there are a lot of pieces missing about the 9/11 attacks. You can believe these if you choose, or come up with your own, since it opens the door for you. Very well done film. Would highly recommend.
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A Few Days In September - Very Disappointing
Added 3/31/2009
A Few Days In September is one of those movies that many fans of thoughtful foreign films will seek out because of a compelling cast. Unfortunately, most will likely be disappointed. Juliette Binoche and John Turturro cannot save this poorly constructed movie with the stereotypical wooden roles that were written for them. The fact that there is a lack of action has little to do with why this movie is so terrible. I've taken baths deeper than this story. This movie is bad because none of the introspection that fans of spy dramas look for are present in any part of this film. There is nothing deep or thought provoking about this movie. To the characters in this movie, Americans are "dinosaurs" and the Japanese are "weird."
But in addition to being unrealistic, bigoted and cliché, this movie also commits the cardinal sin of film: it's extremely boring. The film-guide on my cable provider described this movie as "terrifying." Perhaps to those who fear boredom, it might be. For everyone else, this may be the cure to insomnia. It took me 4 or 5 viewings to make it all the way through this.
The irony of this film is that the appearance of Nick Nolte is actually a high point here because it adds a little bit of drama and tension to an otherwise uneventful plot. When actors like Binoche and Turturro have significant screen time and the highlight of your film is 5 minutes worth of Nick Nolte, that is not a good thing. No offense is meant to Mr. Nolte, but most of this cast is wasted here.
THE STORY
Ninety percent of the film is comprised of Binoche's character chaperoning Nolte's kids from Paris to Venice to meet their father. Many good things could have been done with that premise, but here it is wasted. Throughout this journey, the kids play asinine patty-cake games with each other and fight over dessert. They are actually young adults that shouldn't be acting so childishly. Binoche's character makes comments about espionage that show just how naïve many people are when it comes to the topic. The fact that so many people are eager to believe such formulaic and stereotypical conspiracy theories is only part of the problem. This movie leaves real issues and plausible conspiracies completely un-touched.
**** MILD SPOILERS AHEAD ****
Nolte has information that is supposed to be worth tons of money to the powers that be. But the way it is portrayed in the movie isn't effective as fiction because it shows none of the understanding of finance needed to profit from such information. It's just one of those plot points that is meant to be swallowed hole without asking any questions. Never mind that there is absolutely no reason for anybody to pay him anything for that information, much less the windfall sums mentioned here. He has absolutely no leverage in the event they don't pay for the information he has already shared.
They also expect you to believe that people involved in the dangerous world of international espionage would be relaxing in a café waxing poetic while secret agents are fresh on their tail trying to kill them. They expose themselves outdoors and near curtain-less windows, just in case a sniper wants to take them out. Why take cover after all? These people are supposed to be the elite of the spy world? Some of them also love to hang around the scene of the crime reciting poetry after they have committed murders. Why not give the authorities more time to apprehend you after a crime? Some would have you believe that these ridiculous plot points give the movie charm. Actually they just make a terrible story even more ridiculous.
John Turturro's French is recited in a memorized way that seems to prevent him from actually acting. He throws some unnecessary Italian in too for good measure. They would have been better off having him deliver all his lines in English. His multi-lingual character portrayal is not convincing and adds little to the performance.
His character is almost as annoying as Binoche's. She is such a highly trained double agent, in fact, that she spills the beans on all kinds of classified information to people she barely knows who are not likely to keep a secret. She claims to have been a *spy teacher* who has worked for many countries. Yet she frequently holds sensitive conversations from unsecured cell phones. None of this rings true . These are the kinds of stories people tell you before they ask you to borrow $5. She is a great actress and delivers all her lines with authority, including French, English and Arabic dialogue. But almost universally, the lines she has to deliver seem to be in desperate need of re-writes.
The high quality camera work and breath-taking locations are the only saving graces to this movie, but neither of those things can distract the viewer from the fact that there is barely enough content here for a short story, much less a feature length movie.
CONCLUSION
This film fails on almost every level. Please don't subject yourself to this unless you love 9/11 conspiracy theories and bigotry against Americans, the Japanese and others. If this is really how people perceive the intelligence community, it bodes very badly for the future of international relations. Some great actors do their best to portray some cookie-cutter characters. But this isn't enjoyable as a movie for it's own sake, nor is it good for those looking for spy thrillers with layers of subtext. From the surface straight on down, this movie is shallow and uninspired. Take those few hours of your life and invest them in reading anything by John LeCarre instead. I've given up 4 or 5 hours of my life to this movie that I will never get back.
If you're having trouble sleeping, then check this out. If you are literally being paid to watch it, then by all means do what you have to in order to pay your bills. It seems likely that under-the-table compensation explains at least some of the praise that this train wreck has received. But for everyone else, stay as far away from this movie as possible.
4 out of 5 people found this helpful.
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Ridiculous, weak, slow plot = Ridiculous, weak, slow movie
Added 11/16/2008
One of John Turturro's worst performances, if not the worst. Babbling in French like some ethereal thinking, Homer Simpson was laughable. And he was supposed to be an assassin? Whatever her name was, as the lead came across as an incompetent "agent" of whatever she was tasked to do. A brother and sister frolicking and having sex. What a waste of time.
Dumb European production trying to copy a premise (if that's what you want to call it) more suited as a big budget American film, failed. Nick Nolte's appearance made things even more laughable and unbearable. Goofy movie.
I don't care if this review helps no one. Just wanted to get across how much a stinker of a movie this is.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Very Forgettable!!
Added 4/17/2008
I usually like Juliette Binoche in most all her roles and who wouldnt want to see a movie with John Turturro and Nick Nolte....Right?, but...
This movie is very slow and in French (just letting you know). I watched the first hour and couldnt bear the thought of sitting through another hour.
Pass this movie up when you see it! Not recommended!!!!!
2 out of 6 people found this helpful.
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waste of cinematography
Added 12/26/2007
This year especially, I got what I thought were good gems of movies, with good actors, plot and shooting. But, what I ended up with were duds. This one is one of those.
Once you start watching the movie, you know exactly what is going to happen, but have to go through the torture of getting there.. not that much happens. There is tension created out of thin air, there is somewhat of a plot line, and all the good acting is wasted on a total that is not there. It is as if the French create these movies to mock the Americans.
Also, there are no subtitles in English part of the dialogue, so if you are hard of hearing, tough luck!
I would consider this movie to be a "poser", nothing more, especially on a subject as significant as 9/11.
What a waste..
3 out of 4 people found this helpful.
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