Feb. 06, 2003 - 12:00 am
surely you've seen this. don't tell me otherwise or i hate you. not really. this film was nominated for 5 Oscars and should have won Best Foreign Language Film. it did in most people's minds for sure. yes, i did see No Man's Land (2001) and no it was not anything nearly as astounding as Amelie. this film is also currently number 18 on the IMDb. and it only took me a month after Christmas and sit down and actually watch this new addition to my film collection.
it's a French film about a girl from Montmartre who has always had a funny and interesting way of viewing the world around her. she has a wild imagination and is probably the sweetest person you could ever meet. she decides that she wants to start doing good for people all the time and ends up finding a photo album that might just lead her to the man of her dreams...if she ever decides to return it to him.
this film is astoundingly creative. lots of amazing craning cinematography, fish eye lenses, and an awesome bit of art direction. the whole film is color corrected to make it look visually stunning, but there is also a totally planned out color scheme to the film involving lots of reds, yellows, and greens. perfect acting, especially from Audrey Tautou. (is anyone going to see her new film? i might. Leslie...you interested?) the movie also has a wonderful use of special effects to put emphasis on scenes generated by imagination or memory. basically if you asked me for a movie that i thought was "magical" in every possible way, i would tell you to watch Amelie.
i think the only complaint i can even come up with in regards to this movie is that Americans don't get some of the great little things that happen when you understand French. my best example of this: the title. did you notice that the French title rhymes? i think that's very fitting and i love to say the title of this film. oh you want to know how to pronounce it? ok. (Luh fab you low des taaan domulee poo laaan.) full of interesting facts aren't i? you know you love it.