I would agree with you that "The Life Aquatic" is a mess. Still, several days after seeing it, I am still thinking about it, which for me is the sign of a good movie. I work with a film school graduate who says his film school friends who saw it recommended it, but only on the third viewing, when it starts to make sense and you understand the plot enough to enjoy the sets, which I did think were really clever and very realistic. I think you might have to be a film school graduate to see it three times, though.
My 21-year-old daughter, who is a pretty tough film critic and never likes art movies (which you really have to view this movie as) liked it immensely. At the end of the movie everyone in the theatre was just sitting in their seats in that stunned way when a movie really is very good. It was not until then, watching the informational bits go by, that it was revealed that the songs in the movie were written by David Bowie and sung in Portuguese.
A whole lot of extremely good talent and lovely writing went into this movie. If you are a lover of film, I would recommend it, even in its flawed state. It is the kind of movie that would not be very splendid visually on video, however. I would say go see it at the bargain matinee. |
