RSS 2.0 FeedApril 20, 2011, Featured Articles, Film
FILM REVIEW: Certifiably dull
Juliette Binoche's latest film, "Certified Copy," is pointless and, indeed, unoriginal despite the Tuscan scenery and the cinematic debut of opera baritone William Shimell.
People sometimes ask me how I can bare to sit through a bad movie. Sure, it can be difficult, but I always reply that the bad ones make me appreciate the good ones even more. Case in point: thanks to the dull and aimless Certified Copy, my appreciation for the brilliance of last week’s Win Win has increased exponentially.
Certified Copy takes place during a day in and around beautiful Tuscany, where English author James Miller (acclaimed opera baritone William Shimell) has arrived to promote his new book, “Certified Copy,” which has received an award for best foreign essay of the year.
In the crowd to hear his presentation is Elle (Juliette Binoche, Chocolat, Dan in Real Life), an antiques dealer and single mother of a teenage son who takes great pleasure in pushing her buttons. It’s because of her son that she has to excuse herself, but she is able to arrange a meeting with James later at her shop.
James, an argumentative and arrogant blowhard, is quickly bored by her antiques and wants to go out for coffee. Elle ends up driving him to the countryside village of Lucignano, known for its numerous weddings. Along the way, they banter endlessly about the concept of what is and what is not an original.
At one point during their afternoon excursion they are mistaken for a married couple, thus beginning a continual game of role playing. However, this cute little exercise between two strangers becomes a headache inducing series of nauseating philosophical debates which lead to an unresolved conclusion.
Binoche is a delight to watch on the silver screen as she flows effortlessly between French, Italian, and English dialogue. With her refined look, she injects passion into a character that is clearly walking an emotional tightrope (one she has admittedly fallen off before in her life). Besides some admiration for wonderful shots of the beautiful Italian countryside, this is really the only positive thing to be said about Certified Copy.
The chemistry between Binoche and Miller is nonexistent, a death sentence for a script that calls for the two of them to be in front of the camera together for almost the entire film. No sparks equals no romance and thus it becomes a challenge for the audience to develop an attachment to or affinity for their otherwise odd relationship.
Shimell may be one of Great Britain’s shining stars in the world of opera, but his excursion as a leading man in the world of cinema falls flat. His limited emotional range further dulls an already boorish performance.
Ultimately, the script for Certified Copy leads nowhere and is thoroughly unfulfilling. If you get the chance, see Win Win, or anything else for that matter, instead.
On a letter grade scale from “A” being excellent to “F” for failing, Certified Copy receives a D.
Certified Copy is unrated and has a running time of 106 minutes.
Now showing through April 21 @
Tivoli Cinemas
Westport Manor Square, 4050 Pennsylvania, KCMO
Visit www.tivolikc.com or call 913-383-7756 for more information.
Indie Film Editor
Michael D. Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts in history at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri followed by a Master of Arts in history at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Inspired by such critics as Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, Michael started reviewing films in 1992 for College of the Ozarks's student-run newspaper. After returning to the Kansas City area in 1994, he continued film reviewing by writing for the Cass County Democrat Missourian in Harrisonville.
In 2000 Michael joined Sun Publications in Overland Park, Kansas where he served as its film critic and Arts and Entertainment Editor. During his tenure there, he was also the film critic for the "Fine Arts Radio Hour" and "Celebrity Scoop" radio shows on KXTR. After leaving the Sun in late 2002, he became the A&E writer for the Olathe News in Olathe, Kansas. He also worked as a freelance writer for The Squire in Leawood, Showcase Publishing in Lake Ozark, Missouri and the Kansas City Star.
Michael is currently a member of the Kansas City Film Critics Circle, a professional film critic organization established in 1966 by the late Dr. James Loutzenhiser.
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