ELEGY
‘TRULY AROUSING’
by Vishal Verma
An Ultra Presentation (in India and DVD circuit) of a Lakeshore Entertainment presentation and production. (International sales: Lakeshore, Beverly Hills.) Produced by Tom Rosenberg, Gary Lucchesi, Andre Lamal. Executive producers, Richard Wright, Eric Reid, Terry A. McKay, Judd Malkin. Directed by Isabel Coixet. Screenplay, Nicholas Meyer, based on a novel by Philip Roth.
Star Cast
Consuela Castillo - Penelope Cruz
David Kepesh - Ben Kingsley
George - Dennis Hopper
Carolyn - Patricia Clarkson
Kenny Kepesh - Peter Sarsgaard
Amy - Deborah Harry
Charlie Rose – Himself
Technical Analysis
Indeed!, this is for grown ups. The first scene of "Elegy" establishes the film's protagonist as not just likable but admirable, even.
"Elegy," is a moving character study and romance based on the novel "The Dying Animal" by Philip Roth.
Adapted from the Philip Roth novel THE DYING ANIMAL, the script from Nicholas Meyer (THE HUMAN STAIN) doesn't try too hard for the audience's tears. But much of the credit goes to the cast: Kingsley and Cruz make for a sexy, affectionate couple with their layered performances, and Clarkson (THE STATION AGENT) is wonderful as always. Dennis Hopper is nicely cast as David's philandering friend George, and Blondie front woman Deborah Harry is very simple in a small appearance as George's longsuffering wife. The largely classical soundtrack further adds to the film's contemplative mood.
Isabel Coixet, who made the earnest "My Life Without Me." Is not ashamed of using silhouetted shots and plaintive piano notes to evoke moods, Coixet invests her film with an emotionality that sometimes threatens to overwhelm the story. But a uniformly fine cast, including Patricia Clarkson as David's no-strings-attached lover of many years, keeps things on course.
Kingsley exudes intelligence and charm when combines David's refinement with a newfound emotional intensity, Kingsley mesmerizes.
This is David's story, yet much of the burden rests on Cruz, who is so appealing she's lovely in every sense, lending Consuela, who comes from a wealthy Cuban American family and who started college after a few years in the working world, a defined sense of self from the beginning.
Though dazzled by this famous author's attentions, Consuela is no babe in the woods. She cares for the man rather than his accomplishments – and despite his immaturity.
That Cruz is in her mid-30s helps sell the romantic and sexual aspects of "Elegy.". it requires maturity to digest this passionate affair visualized by some bold sex scenes where a 64-year-old Kingsley is seeing a woman in her early 20s.
Technically simple, this movie is a pure adult entertainment. Go without any strings attached.
The Story
Like director Isabel Coixet's previous film MY LIFE WITHOUT ME, ELEGY is consumed by the ideas of love and mortality. But while that film focused on a young protagonist, the hero of this drama is an aging writer and professor played by Ben Kingsley. David Kepesh (Kingsley) is a minor literary celebrity in New York City who shies away from commitment, happy with his casual relationship with a businesswoman (Patricia Clarkson) who is rarely in town. But a date with a stunning grad student named Consuela (Penelope Cruz) surprisingly turns into a long-term romance, changing David from a confident Lothario into a jealous boyfriend. His age and her beauty haunt their romance until David begins to push her away. As its title suggests, ELEGY achieves a perfectly somber tone.
Recommended: Yes, but for only those who have a strong appetite to digest a 60 yr old Kinsley having a passionate affair with immensely beautiful 20 something Cruz.
Other Credits
Camera (color, video-to-35mm), Jan Claude Larrieu; editor, Amy Duddleston; music supervisor, Coixet; production designer, Claude Pare; art director, Helen Jarvis; costume designer, Katia Stano; make-up, Victoria Down; sound (Dolby Digital), Rob Young; assistant director, Sandra Mayo; casting, Heike Brandstatter, Coreen Mayrs. Reviewed at Famous Preview theatre, Mumbai on Jan 28, 2009. Running time: 111 MIN. Censored with ‘A’ certificate for nudity and love scenes.