My Blueberry Nights
Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Directed by: Wong Kar Wai
Starring:
Norah Jones - Elizabeth
Jude Law - Jeremy
David Strathairn - Arnie
Rachel Weisz - Sue Lynne
Natalie Portman - Leslie
Years ago, I remember someone telling me that they wished they could re-experience seeing a Wong Kar Wai film for the first time. Maybe it's just my lack of imagination, but I can't think of much higher praise than that. Wong is certainly a singular voice in cinema, exploring themes of love and loneliness in both the concrete and the abstract; detached and emotional. My Blueberry Nights is his American debut and while his fans won't find much that's new in his latest film, those that don't want to jump right in to his masterpieces like Chungking Express and In the Mood for Love won't find a better entry point than Nights.
Nights is actually three stories told across the span of a year and thousands of miles. The through-line is the journey of Elizabeth (musician Norah Jones making a strong debut performance), who finds solace in the late-night talks with café-owner and baker Jeremy (Jude Law). But just as their romance is about to blossom, Elizabeth takes off on a journey of self-discovery. Working as a waitress in Memphis, she meets a heartbroken alcoholic (David Strathairn) and the woman who broke his heart (Rachel Weisz). She later moves on to Reno where she takes a chance on an unlucky gambler (Natalie Portman). Through these three tales, we see Wong's signature cinematography of strobes, neons, and warm colors, always reminding us that despite how lonely we can get and how much the people we love can hurt us, the world is not a cold and unforgiving place. There's also his exemplary use of music where he does for Cat Power's “The Greatest" what he did The Cranberries' "Dreams" and The Mamas & the Papas "California Dreamin'".
The film's biggest drawback is in its casting. Jones is fine choice, but Wong has filled the film with actors who want to work with him rather than picking the best actor for the job. Jude Law is too ridiculously handsome to just be a guy who runs a café. Rachel Weisz is too beautiful to convince us she was ever married to a guy like Arnie. It's not that this casting is beyond belief, but the Hollywood beauty of these stars conflicts with the realism the film is aiming for.
While you'll find better movies in Mr. Wong's history, it's nice to have a sample of what you'll be getting. It's a half-step to his true work but perhaps in that way, you can re-experience seeing a Wong Kar Wai film for the first time.
Words by
Matt Goldberg
4.26.08