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Hong
Kong director Wong Kar-Wai's first foray into English language film
follows the fortunes of Elizabeth (Norah Jones), who after having being
cheated on and left by her boyfriend, sets out across America to
recover - but more importantly - find herself.
She treks across Memphis (she pulls double-duty at a
diner by day and a dive-bar at night) where she stands witness to the
break down of
another pair of troubled lovers (after all, isn't love lost what
working in a bar is all about?).
Lizzy then moves on to Nevada where she befriends a sexy hard-up card
player and
hustler (Natalie Portman) who helps Liz learn "a little bit more about
herself"... and hustles her out of a wad of cash to boot.
All the while, Elizabeth is keeping the world up to date by sending
through postcards detailing her adventures to the English cafe owner in
New York (Jude Law) who helped her through her initial break up with
the aid of Blueberry pie.
While the editing can often feel quite clunky, the laid back, jazzy
mood is mesmerising at times. You really feel that sense of the warmth
of the local bar and cafe's that Liz wanders through - you know the
type - where "everybody knows your name".
Norah Jones is excellent as Liz in her screen debut, delivering a
performance audiences can empathise and fall in love with. She shares
great chemistry with Jude Law (who for once isn't playing a complete
sleeze) who is fantastic, despite the fact his character could be
considered slightly creepy and somewhat of a stalker.
But digress...
There are some moments which do feel a little cheesy and melodramatic,
particularly the sequence involving David
Strathairn and Rachel Weisz's marriage breakdown, but a superbly
charming turn from Natalie Portman more than makes up for any
weaknesses.
Much like
the blueberry pie in the film, My
Blueberry Nights may not have been everyones first choice when
it hit cinemas - but once you
sit down and tuck in - it's surprisingly sweet and comforting. DVD EXTRAS
This was a great little film that did a very short round at the
indie cinema houses, so it's actually amazing to see that such detail
has gone into making the DVD. There are plenty of big budget flicks
that don't include a single thing on a DVD release but there are a
great few extras included here.
There are the obvious inclusion
of a "Making My Blueberry Nights" and trailer - but film fans will get
the most out of a truly interesting Q&A With Director Wong Kar
Wai.
Well worth hunting down.
Conclusion:
Movie 70% Extras: 65%
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