The Reviewer Pauses for "Elegy"

Elegy, is an apt title for this beautiful, although at times, labored story about an emotionally stunted aged gentleman who finally discovers a passion for life. The lyrically shot film by Spanish director Isabel Coixet is a sojourn into the very cultured and stand offish David Kepesh, played wonderfully by Ben Kingsley as a respected critic, author and professor who falls in love with a student, Consuela Castillo, (played terrifically by Penelope Cruz, who should be arrested for theft for stealing this film) and how she turns his once orderly and independent life upside down.
I really felt frustrated watching Ben Kingsley’s character, as a grown, distinguished gentleman, he was still a foolish teenager, until tragedies start to make him aware of his own mortality and just how important relationships are. He has a contentious relationship with his son, (played underwhelming by Peter Saarsgard) and a seemingly perfect (at least for him) friend with benefits relationship with his friend Carolyn, (played very well by Patricia Clarkson). I always like Miss Clarkson and she doesn’t disappoint again. The comic relief comes in the form of David’s best friend George, (played with fun and philosophical whimsy by Dennis Hopper) an accomplished poet but also a fellow immature man who betrays his wife, but who has a poignant idea about beautiful women and how men see (or not see) them. He seems to be David’s Jiminy Cricket.

Again, Penelope Cruz really takes the film away and the scenes she is not in, the film tends to bog down. I have been steadily impressed with Miss Cruz’s development as an actor and am finding myself more and more looking forward to seeing her work. Overall, I liked the acting and how the actors would work off of each other. Most seemed to be clear on how they felt, with the exception of Peter Saarsgard, who it seemed at first as if he did but it felt muddled later on. However, Elegy itself, is a good film but not memorable, except for one sobering beautiful scene between Ben and Penelope. I did enjoy seeing the development of David, but it doesn’t come as a surprise, you see it coming. A better film about a man coming to grips with age, in the comfort of a younger women is Venus, with Peter O’Toole in an Oscar nominated performance. I give Elegy 3 out of 5 stars and is currently available on dvd and blu-ray