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Cassandra's Dream (2008)

post #1 of 15
6/30/08 at 6:16pm
Thread Starter 
The script is not really strong, certainly not on the level of Match Point or Crimes and Misdemeanors, so it's really a testament to the talent of the actors involved that the film is as compelling as it is. It's a shame it only brushes upon the kinds of existential themes of Match Point or Crimes and Punishments.
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post #2 of 15
7/2/08 at 2:15am
I thought it was compelling for a while but I lost interest as time went on. By the end I just wasn't that impressed.

The callback to Annie Hall (Where were you during that?) made me laugh a lot though.
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post #3 of 15
7/2/08 at 2:32am
The moments leading up to the shooting (spoiler? It's in the trailer, but I'll be kind) were pretty intense. After that, once you know how the movie's gonna end, it's just a matter of going through the motions. And that Annie Hall nod was a nice touch.

I'm psyched about Vicky Cristina Barcelona though.
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post #4 of 15
7/2/08 at 7:06pm
This one left me... not cold, not apathetic, but, mostly ambivalent, I guess. I actually found my attention wandering at points, which is not something that usually happens during an Allen film. Fine acting jobs from the two leads, but the dialogue wasn't as snappy as I'd expected and I felt no empathy for McGregor's character, at all.

I think the only time I sat up and said, "hey!", was in that final shot of the boat, because it dawned on me that maybe the boat was cursed, being as how they got it because the previous owners had died (and, of course, the name). Of course, I could be making that up, just looking for something other than what was given...
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post #5 of 15
5/16/10 at 8:20am
A little bland, sadly. McGregor and Farrell are OK,and have pretty good chemistry, but there's not a lot for them to play with- Terry is kind of one-note before and after the shooting, and I suppose the idea that the seemingly more reckless brother is the one who has the most conscience is interesting, but I don't think the movie has much to say, or does it ever feel fresh or energised. Ian is interesting in his character basically suggests that if you can personally move on past stuff, then that is all you need- always live in the now.

It's a movie about a Faustian pact, as Wilkinson's character does give them seemingly exactly what they want, but the brothers end up bringing themselves down though in one sense guilt and another loyalty.

There's a good line or two (I'm thinking that I mug him with a hammer), but it doesn't really zing, and not in the sense of being consistenly funny, but in terms of character and pacing.

I've not seen Crimes and Misdemeanours or Match Point, so I'm quite interested in how much of a retread this is. Anyone else?
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post #6 of 15
5/16/10 at 12:16pm
Thread Starter 
Both Matchpoint and Crimes and Misdemeanors are stories about men offing their mistress (in the case of those films it's to prevent her from telling their wife. I don't remember if this is the case with Cassandra's Dream.) Specifically Crimes and Misdemeanors is about there being no God, while Match Point is a more generally about luck and justice.
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post #7 of 15
5/16/10 at 12:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Ripoll View Post
Both Matchpoint and Crimes and Misdemeanors are stories about men offing their mistress (in the case of those films it's to prevent her from telling their wife. I don't remember if this is the case with Cassandra's Dream.) Specifically Crimes and Misdemeanors is about there being no God, while Match Point is a more generally about luck and justice.
Cassandra's Dream has them killing their uncle's business associate who is going to testify against him- part of the movie is trying to play up the conflict between what's doing right for your family (as Ewan's character mentions that they didn't believe in God) and doing what's right in the ultimate sense (Farrell's character seems to start believing after the murder) and wanting to give himself up.
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post #8 of 15
5/19/10 at 1:27am
I thought it was really, really good. Another underappreciated win for Colin Farrel too.
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post #9 of 15
5/19/10 at 4:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Xion View Post
I thought it was really, really good. Another underappreciated win for Colin Farrel too.
I think he's decent, but I prefer Wilkinson's performance, which goes from kindly to menacing pretty effectively.
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post #10 of 15
5/20/10 at 4:51pm
Okay but Wilkinson is always good. And he's known for being so.
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post #11 of 15
5/20/10 at 5:56pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah, the last decade has proven Wilkinson to be an incredible actor that nearly no one can touch. But Adrian's right in that his performance in this movie is indeed another jewel in his crown.
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post #12 of 15
5/20/10 at 6:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Ripoll View Post
Yeah, the last decade has proven Wilkinson to be an incredible actor that nearly no one can touch. But Adrian's right in that his performance in this movie is indeed another jewel in his crown.
Yeah, he really needs to be given more leading roles- he's absolutely in the top tier of actors working today, who is just as comfortable playing broad (RocknRolla) as doing 'proper' acting (In The Bedroom etc).
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post #13 of 15
5/21/10 at 1:39pm
Right on all counts re: Wilkinson.

Colin Farrel is a very good actor who works with very good directors in decidedly risky films (some that maybe shouldn't have been so risky) but seldom gets the attention of say, DiCaprio or Damon or even Ewan McGregor. And it isn't because Farrel isn't consistently good since he fucking is.

So whenever another film comes along that showcases the guy I feel like it's necessary to point it out.
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post #14 of 15
5/21/10 at 3:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Xion View Post
Right on all counts re: Wilkinson.

Colin Farrel is a very good actor who works with very good directors in decidedly risky films (some that maybe shouldn't have been so risky) but seldom gets the attention of say, DiCaprio or Damon or even Ewan McGregor. And it isn't because Farrel isn't consistently good since he fucking is.

So whenever another film comes along that showcases the guy I feel like it's necessary to point it out.
He's a little hit and miss for me. He can be a really fun and charismatic presence, and I think he's far better in stuff like Cassandra's Dream than in stuff like Alexander or Miami Vice- that said I think both of those were a bit muddled by the directors. I don't know if you've seen his interviews, but since he kicked the drugs he's come across as a far more twitchy presence, which I think he's parlayed into his acting to become more believeable.

This one's grown on me a bit- I'm going to start catching up with more Woody soon I think- Apart from Annie Hall and Manhattan, where do I start?
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post #15 of 15
5/21/10 at 7:34pm
Alexander is the problem, not Colin Farrel. As for Miami Vice, I don't really and have never really understood the criticism of that film. Farrel cements himself pretty handily in the roster of Mann's "cold professionals".
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