(Watched in Toronto)
Anyone who has seen Before Sunrise/Before Sunset will unquestionably recognize the similarity between Before Sunset and Conversation, in both the situation and the delivery (in essence a continuous conversation through the entire movie).
But then, Conversation has a unique feature, the split screen, which is not a novelty, but taken to an unbelievable extent. In fact, the entire movie is on split screen. Sometimes even when the characters appear in the same scene in a simple conversation, they are shown separately on the left and right screens, so that there is no conclusive evidence that they are REALLY talking to each other. But the infinite variation of ways in which the split screen is used is mind-boggling. If I try to describe all these different ways the movie is presented on the split screen, I would exceed the IMDb 1,000 word limit many times. But the important thing is that this is not hollow, flashy show off. While you applaud the imaginative and creative style, we also notice that these things are done at specific situations for specific effects and purposes, and do add a great deal to the movie.
But regardless of how innovative and clever are the techniques, it is ultimately the human story that captivates the audience. Here, we have a young couple meeting, falling in love, coming together, and then parted. But all these are in flashbacks, and we don't even know their names. We see their re-encountering years later, during a wedding party, when she has been married to a cardiologist, and he living with a girlfriend who is a dancer.
Here again, comparison to Before Sunset is inevitable. The biggest difference is of course that Jesse and Celine never had the good fortune of being together at all. The similarity though is in the continuous conversation after the re-encounter. The man and the woman in Conversation, however, ironically, engage in considerably more than just conversation. As to the conversation itself, it is not as elegant and compelling as Before Sunset. And yet, it moves in its own bitter-sweet earnestness.
Much of the charm of Conversation is absolutely to the credit of the leads. Aaron Eckhart, who was quite impressive in Possession, plays the hard-to-read man, who eventually does have some affecting moments towards the end. Helena Bonham Carter, probably the only actress alive who can match Cate Blanchett in versatility (do you recall Cate ever portraying an ape?), delivers in a pitch-perfect performance the intelligent but slightly neurotic, vulnerable woman. The young actors who play the role of the couple in their youth, Erik Eiden and Nora Zehetner, are healthily fresh-looking and immensely likable.
This is a sadder movie (but not without its funny moments) compared with Before Sunset, but those who have enjoyed Before Sunset should have no problem liking Conversation.
Anyone who has seen Before Sunrise/Before Sunset will unquestionably recognize the similarity between Before Sunset and Conversation, in both the situation and the delivery (in essence a continuous conversation through the entire movie).
But then, Conversation has a unique feature, the split screen, which is not a novelty, but taken to an unbelievable extent. In fact, the entire movie is on split screen. Sometimes even when the characters appear in the same scene in a simple conversation, they are shown separately on the left and right screens, so that there is no conclusive evidence that they are REALLY talking to each other. But the infinite variation of ways in which the split screen is used is mind-boggling. If I try to describe all these different ways the movie is presented on the split screen, I would exceed the IMDb 1,000 word limit many times. But the important thing is that this is not hollow, flashy show off. While you applaud the imaginative and creative style, we also notice that these things are done at specific situations for specific effects and purposes, and do add a great deal to the movie.
But regardless of how innovative and clever are the techniques, it is ultimately the human story that captivates the audience. Here, we have a young couple meeting, falling in love, coming together, and then parted. But all these are in flashbacks, and we don't even know their names. We see their re-encountering years later, during a wedding party, when she has been married to a cardiologist, and he living with a girlfriend who is a dancer.
Here again, comparison to Before Sunset is inevitable. The biggest difference is of course that Jesse and Celine never had the good fortune of being together at all. The similarity though is in the continuous conversation after the re-encounter. The man and the woman in Conversation, however, ironically, engage in considerably more than just conversation. As to the conversation itself, it is not as elegant and compelling as Before Sunset. And yet, it moves in its own bitter-sweet earnestness.
Much of the charm of Conversation is absolutely to the credit of the leads. Aaron Eckhart, who was quite impressive in Possession, plays the hard-to-read man, who eventually does have some affecting moments towards the end. Helena Bonham Carter, probably the only actress alive who can match Cate Blanchett in versatility (do you recall Cate ever portraying an ape?), delivers in a pitch-perfect performance the intelligent but slightly neurotic, vulnerable woman. The young actors who play the role of the couple in their youth, Erik Eiden and Nora Zehetner, are healthily fresh-looking and immensely likable.
This is a sadder movie (but not without its funny moments) compared with Before Sunset, but those who have enjoyed Before Sunset should have no problem liking Conversation.