Youth Without Youth (D+ or 1.5/4 stars)
I've wasted a part of my youth watching 'Youth Without Youth', a love story/mystery directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Romania, 1930's: a 70 yr. old professor named Dominic (Tim Roth) is struck by lightning. This cataclysmic event allows Dominic the opportunity to explore the mysteries of his adult life (whether it be through dream, reality, alternate universe, time travel .... who knows). 'Youth without Youth' starts off well; for about 20 minutes. And I liked the last few moments, as well. The cinematography is beautiful (always a strongpoint of Coppola films). And the acting by Roth, Alexandra Maria Lara, & Bruno Ganz is quite stellar. But the hour & a half in between was nothing but a beautiful, yet tedious mess.
When lightning struck linguistics professor Dominic Matei, its effect caused him to become younger ... literally. One moment he was old, decrepit, burned, and 70. The next: seemingly 35 or so. This revelation astounds Dr. Stanciulescu (Bruno Ganz, of Downfall). I mean, the fact, alone, that Dominic has a new set of teeth growing in is bizarre enough (like when you lose them in adolescence and grow new ones). Intrigue then turns to terror though when the Third Reich learns of this revelation, and want to use Dominic for supernatural abilities. With help, Dominic is able to dodge the Nazis; all the while, trying to use his new found youth to finish his life's work (studying the mysteries of human consciousness).
There is also a love story intertwined in this crazy plot. Now young again, Dominic meets & falls in love with Veronica (Lara, also of Downfall). She's an attractive woman who reminds him of a fiancee he once had in his youth, Laura. Laura supposedly died. However (and get ready for it ...), it seems that Veronica has ALSO been struck by lightning, leaving her possessed by the spirits of dead people (i.e., Laura, and an Indian woman)! Veronica's predicament has led her from Switzerland to Malta to India, and back. Now, Dominic sees Veronica as the missing component to solving his life work on human consciousness. Will he/they live forever? Can he accomplish his goal before dying; before she dies; or at the cost of a new life together? There's almost no way to figure it out.
I make no apologies for not understanding philosophy. I took a class on it once & despised it. This entire movie is pseudo-philosophical, metaphysical hodgepodge. Characters are talking to themselves with inane detail (sometimes upside down, why, I don't know). They're talking to other people in different tongues (with no subtitles). They're creating their OWN languages. Gosh, there's a scene where Dominic & Laura are yelling at each other on some boulders. Any outsider or person behind the camera witnessing this lunacy must have thought Coppola has finally lost it.
You know, I bet you 7 out of every 10 people would loathe this film, and this review is for those 7 people. Yes, the film is trying to say something, and yes, it's pretty. But that doesn't make a coherent motion picture. I respect Coppola's passion here, but he threw so much effort into a confounding project. It's challenging, it's thought-provoking, but it's also audacious & indecipherable to its audience. Coppola's attempt at metaphysical/mystical/philosophical wonderment comes across as very pretentious. And he can't bridge any genre gaps: What is reality? Dream state? Are there alter egos? Are we in the past, the present, or the future? Is this a science lesson? Is it a heavy-handed love story? It's ALL too serious for its own good, and way too confusing. Better luck next time, Francis.
When lightning struck linguistics professor Dominic Matei, its effect caused him to become younger ... literally. One moment he was old, decrepit, burned, and 70. The next: seemingly 35 or so. This revelation astounds Dr. Stanciulescu (Bruno Ganz, of Downfall). I mean, the fact, alone, that Dominic has a new set of teeth growing in is bizarre enough (like when you lose them in adolescence and grow new ones). Intrigue then turns to terror though when the Third Reich learns of this revelation, and want to use Dominic for supernatural abilities. With help, Dominic is able to dodge the Nazis; all the while, trying to use his new found youth to finish his life's work (studying the mysteries of human consciousness).
There is also a love story intertwined in this crazy plot. Now young again, Dominic meets & falls in love with Veronica (Lara, also of Downfall). She's an attractive woman who reminds him of a fiancee he once had in his youth, Laura. Laura supposedly died. However (and get ready for it ...), it seems that Veronica has ALSO been struck by lightning, leaving her possessed by the spirits of dead people (i.e., Laura, and an Indian woman)! Veronica's predicament has led her from Switzerland to Malta to India, and back. Now, Dominic sees Veronica as the missing component to solving his life work on human consciousness. Will he/they live forever? Can he accomplish his goal before dying; before she dies; or at the cost of a new life together? There's almost no way to figure it out.
I make no apologies for not understanding philosophy. I took a class on it once & despised it. This entire movie is pseudo-philosophical, metaphysical hodgepodge. Characters are talking to themselves with inane detail (sometimes upside down, why, I don't know). They're talking to other people in different tongues (with no subtitles). They're creating their OWN languages. Gosh, there's a scene where Dominic & Laura are yelling at each other on some boulders. Any outsider or person behind the camera witnessing this lunacy must have thought Coppola has finally lost it.
You know, I bet you 7 out of every 10 people would loathe this film, and this review is for those 7 people. Yes, the film is trying to say something, and yes, it's pretty. But that doesn't make a coherent motion picture. I respect Coppola's passion here, but he threw so much effort into a confounding project. It's challenging, it's thought-provoking, but it's also audacious & indecipherable to its audience. Coppola's attempt at metaphysical/mystical/philosophical wonderment comes across as very pretentious. And he can't bridge any genre gaps: What is reality? Dream state? Are there alter egos? Are we in the past, the present, or the future? Is this a science lesson? Is it a heavy-handed love story? It's ALL too serious for its own good, and way too confusing. Better luck next time, Francis.