Product: Head in the Clouds (2004)
Rating: 4.0
2 Films in 1
"Head in the Clouds" was a good cinematic experience. It seems to split into 2 films, pre-war & war. The pre-war part is fun, seeing the affluent party & play. The war part comes along and each character seems to find deeper reasons for living. Australian director John Duigan directed one of my favorite little films, "Lawn Dogs" from 1997. The cinematography here is excellent; costumes are breathtaking; the story is epic, if perhaps just a bit too long. Charlize Theron is a talented actress & glamorous movie star. With her Oscar for "Monster" and other excellent performances such as "Sweet November" with Keanu Reeves and the "Italian Job" with Donald Sutherland, we expect a high level of performance which she delivers here. Socialite playgirl Gilda Besse offers Theron a variety of emotions and displays her promiscuous naughty side, her businesswoman side as she develops a photography business, artist, lover and shows her ultimately capable of duplicity for a good cause. It is a varied and stunning performance that is riveting. Irish actor Stuart Townsend who played Dorian Gray in "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" with Sean Connery does an excellent job as Irish patriot Guy who is torn by his political devotion and his emotional hormonal torrid love affair with Gilda. Thrown into the mix is dancer Mia played by Penelope Cruz. Cruz is an interesting actress from Spain who has played opposite Tom Cruise in "Vanilla Sky," in "Gothika" & recently in "Sahara." As the third person in the love triangle, she performs with a depth & intensity that is full match for Theron & Townsend. While this film did seem to take a bit too long to conclude, it was an excellent film from a story that developed and characters that changed, reflecting a world that was also in a state of flux and change. I liked it! Enjoy!