"Elegy", based on Tim Roth’s Novel ‘The Dying Animal’, involves hidden desires, obsession and all other elements of an absorbing drama. "Elegy" brings together Academy Award nominee Penelope Cruz and Academy Award Winner Ben Kingsley accompanied by many other terrific and renowned actors like Dennis Hopper, Patricia Clarkson and Peter Sarsgaard. Has the movie been able to match up to the literary genesis? Check out the complete review to find out if it lives up to the expectations!
Have a look at the exclusive pictures from "Elegy" and the oomph of super hot Penelope Cruz.
Released on: 8th of August 2008
Genre: Drama and adaptation
Directed by: Isabel Coixet
Story and Screen play Writer: Source material by Philip Roth and Screenplay by Nicholas Meyer
Music: Eric Craig and Brian McNelis as Music Consultants, Angie Rubin as Music Editor and Isabel Coixet as Music Supervisor.
Produced By: Gary Lucchesi, Andre Lamal, Tom Rosenberg
Star cast: Penelope Cruz, Ben Kingsley, Peter Sarsgaard, Patricia Clarkson, Dennis Hopper, Sonja Bennett, Antonio Cupo and Deborah Harry
Storyline/Synopsis: Based on Tim Roth’s Novel "The Dying Animal", ‘Elegy’ revolves around Professor David Kepesh (Ben Kingsley). This Professor’s favourite students are adventurous female students. But he never let any woman to get too close, neither close to his heart nor to his mind. His life takes an intriguing turn when a young mysterious girl Consuela Castillo (Penelope Cruz), enters into his classroom and gradually into his life. The Professor gets mesmerized by the beauty. Romance takes place between the professor and the student. However, when the professor becomes obsessive for his student, He discovers some hidden secrets. What are those hidden secrets? After two years, Consuela comes back again to unsettle Professor Kepesh. This time she comes with a request, asking for a favour from the Professor. What lies behind the mysterious Consuela? How she turns the life of the Professor 360 degrees?
Have a sneak peek at "Elegy".
Strengths: The greatest strength of the movie is that it is an absorbing Drama. The screenplay writer Nicholas Meyer has done a fabulous job. The Director deserves a pat on the shoulder for getting together so many hugely talented actors and successfully extracting the best out of them. The love making scenes are shot very erotically as well as beautifully. "The biggest surprise in a man's life is old age", this phrase suits the ever-fascinating Ben Kingsley perfectly. The character of professor Kepesh looks tailor made for such a fantastic actor and he portrays it with perfection. Penelope Cruz (she is hot!), and with her sensuous body leaves a mesmerizing effect. As Consuella Castillo, she is dazzling. Dennis Hopper is brilliant and the scenes where he and Professor have a conversation are just too good. Patricia Clarkson is amazing and Peter Sarsgaard is superb. What else can we expect from Academy award winners and nominees except the best and acting wise everyone is incredibly remarkable. A twist in the tail adds charm to the movie.
Flaws: At places the movie loses the pace as well as the interest of the audience. Also I must say that some actors of the renowned satr cast are under utilized. Another thing that lets the movie down is that even the finest acting by the actors in the lead roles is unable to make people connect with themselves. In short, the movie (movie characters) falls flat in making any sort of connection with the audiences.
Audience Verdict: I got a chance to talk to my fellow audiences and most of them liked the movie. Keeping in mind that the movie is rated R, so there is much more in this absorbing drama. The movie is bound to get appreciation from mature audiences. Thumps up from people over 50 but I cannot say the same about the rest. But yes everybody loved the chemistry between the professor and his sensuous student!
My ratings for the Movie *** 1/2 i.e. Three and a half stars out of Five. One star for Ben Kingsley, one for Penelope Cruz, one for the rest of terrific actors and another half as I had a good time watching ‘Elegy’. Do I need to say more?
Check out the movie at your nearest theatre.
