Search - An Almost Perfect Affair on DVD

Charming Sleeper

Randy Buck | Brooklyn, NY USA | 09/25/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This film's been unfairly maligned for years; dumped by its distributor and savaged by critics in its initial release, perhaps it can find an appreciative audience in this spiffy new DVD version. The plot, a slight romance between American indie filmmaker Carradine and Italian producer's wife Vitti at the Cannes film festival, is slight, but very pleasant. There's real chemistry between the pair; Monica, particularly, is touching and very appealing. Some genuine laughs in the Walter Bernstein screenplay, sympathetic direction from Michael Richie, and a glorious score from the always-reliable Georges Delarue add to the film's pleasures. Also enjoyable are the unbilled star cameos, and the running joke about the remake of STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE with Vanessa Redgrave and Charles Bronson (if memory serves, such a project was discussed in the 70's; the proposed Stanley was Stallone, even more ludicrous!) The transfer's gorgeous; at bargain price, this one's really worth checking out."

Good idea thrown away

bookloversfriend | United States | 05/02/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Critics and art-house lovers must have writhed at this movie that puts the spotlight on their pretensions and the deals and self-absorption that are behind it all. But people interested in film-making, screenwriting and just movie buffs in general will chortle with glee at this public airing of the phoniness of these egomaniacs.

Unfortunately, these moments are brief and few. One has to listen closely as dozens of glimpses are caught of these "auteurs" and their doe-eyed admirers. Also shown are what some people will do to get into the movies. All of this occupies maybe 5 to 10 percent of the movie.

The rest of the movie is a tawdry little garden-variety rom-com and not a good one at that.

Ironically, this rom-com was probably put in to sell the movie, thus committing one of the repulsive tactics the film itself is trying to lampoon.

Someone should take this idea and run with it, even today. To see a 90 minute movie devoted to showing what goes on at Cannes would be a wildly entertaining movie as well as a valuable document.
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