Youthful.

Rating: 7/10 (3 March 2016)

Youth (2015): Dir: Paolo Sorrentino / Cast: Michael Caine, Harvey Keitel, Rachel Weisz, Paul Dano, Jane Fonda: Memories of yesterday invade one's current state as two longtime friends stay at a resort. Michael Caine plays Fred Ballinger, a retired composer who is approached with an offer to perform for the Queen but he refuses. Harvey Keitel plays Mick Boyle, a struggling filmmaker whose final film is botched when convincing his leading actress to appear becomes problematic. Rachel Weisz plays Lena, Fred's daughter who is reconnecting with him and became his assistant. She finds romance in a poorly handled and distracting subplot regarding a climber. Paul Dano plays a struggling actor who regrets that his most notable role is playing a robot. Jane Fonda makes an appearance as the diva whom Boyle is trying to cast in his film and she delivers an icy yet blunt monologue to Boyle that is painful but true in more ways than one. Director Paolo Sorrentino was celebrated with The Great Beauty but his efforts here are uneven with numerous distracting unnecessary shots. The production values are top notch with gorgeous locations and photography, particularly during a dream sequence. Screenplay starts out well but becomes disjointed until the finale where an invitation is met nicely. Theme regards ageing and how it screws with one's memory and perception. It plays on one's self worth as Ballinger deals with his relationship with composing, and Boyle struggling with completing his life's work and roadblocks preventing him, and Lena attempting to connect with a parent. Score: 7 / 10