Run Amélie Run!

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Maybe it has already been discussed, but since I just saw it I'm all ameliezed and would like to know if others got the chance to see "Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain". Already I feel it will leave a longlasting impression on me, like a little tattoo in your head that some books or films carve on oneself. I think I'll go see it again. If only to spend two hours in Paris with Amélie. Dreams never end.

― Simon, Saturday, 20 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Is the film really that good then?

― DG, Saturday, 20 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

i am seeing it tomorrow at the filmfest here. saw the new coens movie last saturday and enjoyed it very much and i really didn't like billy bob thornton beforehand but in 'the man who wasn't there' he was the perfect ed crane. i think we regret not seeing 'fat girl' now.

― keith, Saturday, 20 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

It's quirky and atmospheric. It looks beautiful...and there is a great deal of affection for detail...but, I think the hype could detract from the enjoyment. It's a simple love story and really well made. It's heart is in the right place. But, I didn't love it.

― james, Sunday, 21 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

But you didn't love it. Alright. You describe it in rather good terms for someone who did not love it... I found it entrancing, remarkably shot of course - but techincal skill is so unimportant... - but mostly just so dreamy and beautiful (just a boy meets girl story, as Lawrence Durrell would so lightly say) that I felt like dancing in the streets when I came out of the theatre.

― Simon, Sunday, 21 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

That's what I mean...I appreciated it, but it never completely won me over. Cynicism, I guess.

― james, Sunday, 21 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

(also there's the whole mr bean thing)

― mark s, Sunday, 21 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

what if you think mr. atkinson is hot hOT HOT.

― jess, Sunday, 21 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

back to yr donut device you!

― mark s, Sunday, 21 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I don't think I could possily appreciate a film that has been hyped so much. But I do have a question, is it self-consciously arty or does it just end up that way anyway?

― Bill, Sunday, 21 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Not the new Vincent Gallo fillum, right? I am intrigued to see *that* one because it is apparently extremely sexy. Combining death and sex which is so European, non? Directed by Claire Denise something or other and also with Beatrice Dalle? Oo la la.

― helen fordsdale, Sunday, 21 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I want to see Amelie but it's not on round here...*sigh*...

― DG, Sunday, 21 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Bill: the images are extremely well-constructed, like paintings (if you've seen Delicatessen or La Cité..., you'll see what I mean), but the allymcbealisms are not gimmicky, in the sense that the effects are perfectly integrated in the real imaginary Paris Amelie lives in.

― Simon, Sunday, 21 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I saw Amelie a couple of weeks ago now and I thought it was really good. Absolutely loved it. I agree about the 'look' of the film being very much like Delicatessen and Cite, and Jeunet even makes the most recognisable landscapes in France as distinctive as those (very distinctive) films.

However, Serge Kowalski's negative review is very interesting - check out the Liberation website.

I even ended up discussing it with three little old French ladies on the Central Line on the way back home from work! - I talked more to them than i have *ever* spoken to anyone on the Tube, so it really is a film that can build bridges...

I'm intrigued by the Claire Denis movie. I loved Beau Travail. Anyone know any more goss about it?

― Will, Monday, 22 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I will probably see this when it comes out in a theater near here, even tho' Jeunet was mean to Joss Whedon.

― Nicole, Monday, 22 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

i saw it yesterday, with a surprising number of french people in the audience considering it was denver and well i loved it. it is my favourite movie of the year, will likely stay that way. i am sure the fact that is sweet and unapologetically so will irk everyone here, but i smiled from the opening frame.

― keith, Monday, 22 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The criticism based upon the idea that the film does not represent today's France seems like complete stupidity to me. So beside the point it's offensive. "There is no Black or Beur in the film", some critics said. But the Paris of a timeless illusion is depicted through Amelie. Freedom of cinema.

― Simon, Tuesday, 23 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

But the Paris of a timeless illusion is depicted through Amelie.

Yeah, well I suppose the argument (I don't know if I agree with it) would run: "the perpetuation of that 'timeless illusion' is damaging the national psyche and image if it can't involve black faces".

― Nick, Tuesday, 23 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Nevertheless there are black faces in it. There are - admittedly - no black lead characters (though I wouldn't be surprised if the greengrocer boy did not have a touch of the Algerian in him) but in incidental background characters in the railway station and so on they do spring up. I am quite annoyed that said article made me look though.

Anyway, how can it be timeless Paris without the hoverbots which will be cleaning the Eiffel Tower in 20 years time.

― Pete, Tuesday, 23 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

one month passes...

I was about to start a thread about this but here it is. I finally saw Amelie and was really taken by it. I think there aren't enough love stories based on introverted overimaginative weirdos. I suddenly feel an urge to see more... I wish my eyes were as big as hers too.

― Honda, Thursday, 29 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

two weeks pass...

ameliezed, lovely. It does indeed demand its own word, doesn't it? I finally saw it a couple of days ago and came out of the cinema with a lovely feeling, life izz beeootifool. Gotta agree with Simon in re. longlasting impression although I doubt I will want to see it again, since I didn't know what to expect I was really surprised at every twist and turn. I wonder if a re-run doens't ruin that magical feeling? Ah when that guy opens his lost box and the memories flood in, what a moment! Going on about black faces is a bit pathetic when you create such powerful moments on screen.

― Omar, Monday, 17 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I'm still giddy from seeing it the second time. I think it might be better when you're not destracted by what might happen next. You kind of feel more part of it. Somebody get me it on DVD and I'll leave it on repeat for the rest of my life.

(I'll calm down soon. Maybe)

― Graham, Thursday, 20 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I'm glad this thread has reappeared (even though I started one on Amelie first!;-)) because I saw it for the second time also, last night. It gets better on a second viewing. I was in a FOUL mood when I arrived at the cinema, and left it incredibly happy. One of the things I noticed more this time was the music. Perfect. Melancholy, gentle, unobtrusive, trickling... it lifted the scenes without dominating them. I also noticed that Jamel Debouze only ever used one arm. Does anyone know if this is because of the actor, or an element of the charac

― Will, Thursday, 20 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I was in a mood way beyond foul yesterday so I went to see it. I liked it for a while, it made me cry when she was a kid and stuff. And yes, the music was good. But after a while I got increasingly bored. I couldn't give a stuff about her chasing that stupid photo booth bloke. I didn't think she was a very good actress, either. It's not like me to be cynical about 'ahh - yummy' films, but I just didn't see what all the fuss was about.

― N., Thursday, 20 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Aww, c'mon N.! What about that bit when she melts into a puddle? I love the fact that if you described bits of 'Le fabuleux destin...' to someone they would sound excruciatingly naff, but it just 'gets away with it' on screen, time after time.

― Will, Thursday, 20 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I thought that bit where she melted into a puddle was rubbish.

― N., Thursday, 20 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

It was soooo Ally McBeal.

― Nicole, Thursday, 20 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Nicole is on the money.

― N., Thursday, 20 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Nicole and N, are you the male and female personae of the same person?

― Will, Thursday, 20 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Yes, yes we are. That's exactly it.

― N., Thursday, 20 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

three months pass...

Out on DVD+Video this week, buy! buy! Buy!

(expect much excitable posting from me later this evening)

― Graham, Monday, 15 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

BUY BUY BUY BUY BUY BUY

― Graham, Monday, 15 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

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