Nearly Flawless Cinematic Work of Art

Rating: 10/10 (21 January 2019)

5 January 2008. The crisp and cinematic marvel of a period piece in a romantic drama genre is easily one of the best movies of the year, if not the best. The sharp attention to audio detail and the set design exudes of a bygone era. This Cold Mountain (2003), Brazil (1985) recreation of an exacting British household is perfectly captured on screen. With the few exception of a few minor flaws or perhaps more correctly alternative approaches to a few scenes, this amazing movie depicts a fascinating romance, innocent youth, and bittersweet tragedy in a fantastic literally sweeping film presentation. There is a panoramic scene of Dunkirk that is Lost in Translation (2003) in its authentic experiential camera work. The few possible changes that might have enhanced the movie included taken more time to capture a smoothly realistic scene with the fly, allowing the audience to be as aware of the contents of a typed letter as the characters in the movie, a clearer presentation of the hunt for missing boys, a more detailed and emotional in depth examination of the arrest scene and the turn about of facing one's decision and reactions of the various parties involved, the evolution of the three soldiers later in the movie that suddenly become about two soldiers, and finally, a more reasonable presentation of a soldier who stumbles across a movie screen. Nevertheless, this movie cannot be diminished by the small minute possible alternative details, the twist in this movie is brilliant and the subject matter universal in scope such that this movie may easily become a classic in years to come. Clearly a best picture contender. Nine out of Ten Stars.