A masterpiece, and the best film of 2003

Rating: Null/10 (1 March 2004)

I thought it was one of the two best movies I saw last year, the other being Thirteen.
Some complained that it was slow. I guess it is true it had virtually no plot. But the brilliant character study of a man realizing he's passed the high point of his life and is on the downward slide was unforgettable and poignant. The picture is completed by the intersection of his life with that of someone who has all of her possibilities in front of her, although she has a hit a momentary bump in the road. It adds more poignancy still that she is a gorgeous young woman who he probably could become sexually involved with, but won't, and with whom he falls into a rather chaste love. It's not that he's not looking for love or solace--he is. He casually sleeps with the chanteuse. But makes sure he doesn't interfere with Scarlett's life. He turns her loose, and doesn't lean on her. It has a kind of Victorian agony in the choices made. At the end, in the famous scene where he whispers something you cannot hear, everyone is left to give their own interpretation and fill in the blanks. I would guess, consistent with how I interpret the movie, that he said: "I love you, but this is as far as it goes. Call me sometime, and let me know if you ever need help. I'll miss you."
A beautiful film.
It would've been my choice last night for Best Picture, although I understand why they felt they needed to honor the LOTR trilogy.