A Bigger Splash

Plot synopsis:
In an isolated villa on the little Italian island of Pantelleria, world-famous rock singer Marianne is on holiday with her filmmaker lover Paul. She is recovering from surgery and has lost her voice, communicating only by signs and occasional whispers. He is in recovery from alcohol addiction and a failed suicide attempt. Neither talks Italian but solitude is what both need, until an airplane from Rome brings a man neither wants to see.
This is Harry, a brash music promoter who was Marianne's lover until he passed her on to his protegé Paul. With him is Pen, a previously unknown daughter of his who says she is 22. Moving into the villa, Harry starts inviting friends round as if it were his home and taking everybody out to various sights and festivities. His arrogant manner bores Pen and annoys Paul, but Marianne starts falling under his spell again and the two make love. The sultry Pen then makes a play for the unhappy Paul, who succumbs easily.
After drinking on his own, Harry comes back very late and starts a fight beside the pool with Paul. Both fall in, and Harry is drowned. In the morning his corpse is seen by the maid, who calls the police. They have more urgent business with illegal immigrants landing from North Africa, some floating ashore dead, but take the occupants of the villa in for questioning. Marianne convinces them with the truth that she was asleep, and suggests that the muderer was an intruder. Paul lies, saying he went to bed before the time of death, and is believed. Pen reveals that she can talk perfect Italian, but chose to let her hosts struggle, and her passport reveals that she is only 17. Taking her to the airport, at the departure gate Marianne gives the insolent young woman a good slap.

Tags: murder

Review:
Tilda Swinton is superb as the voiceless singer, Dakota Johnson gave me, for the first time, a glimpse into what she could be, Matthias Schoenaerts hits all the right notes even the most unexpected ones but Ralph Fiennes gives a performance that it hast to be seen to be believed mostly because this is the same actor in Schindler's List, Quiz Show, In Bruges and last year he provided me woth one of the funniest scenes of the year in Hail Caesar.
Joining her is partner and filmmaker Paul (Matthias Schoenaerts) who, as we see through flashbacks, is introduced to Lane by record producer Harry Hawkes, a rambunctious and zany character played in true dickhead style by Ralph Fiennes.
Tilda Swinton, who actually suggested that her character shouldn't be able to speak herself, does incredibly well with a very physical performance of gestures, facial reactions and whispers, and despite the age gap, her romance with Schoenaerts' Paul feels quite believable.
The stand-out performer though, which is saying something in a film starring Tilda Swinton, is Ralph Fiennes, who shows his superb range with a crazy portrayal of an insufferable, irritating nuisance.Despite the character he is playing, Fiennes is obscenely engaging, and a scene in which he busts multiple moves is both hilarious and striking in a way that very few films are.
While she rests her voice after throat surgery, a David Bowie-esque rock legend, Marianne (Tilda Swinton), and her documentary-filmmaker boyfriend of 6 years, Paul (Matthias Schoenaerts), relax in the remote Italian paradise of Pantelleria.
Her record producer, mutual friend of both and former flame of Marianne, Harry (Ralph Fiennes), brings his estranged daughter, Penelope (Dakota Johnson), to spend time with the couple and, mostly, interrupt the vacation.
It works for the most part, but largely due to the efforts of the talented, committed cast.It's films like A Bigger Splash that make us appreciate the largely underserved Ralph Fiennes.
To an extent there's interest in simply watching the well-cast stars go through their paces: Fiennes plays one of his most extroverted characters; Swinton has magnetism as usual in a contrasting figure (contrasting because her rock-star has to be silent while recovering from surgery--but a laughable flashback where she sings in a recording studio blows any belief that we're watching a credible musical talent); Schoenaerts is attractive and earnest; Johnson is good playing a petulant brat who uses her sexual allure in obvious (yet successful) ways.
That the director thinks his actors/characters are endlessly fascinating is obvious--otherwise why on Earth would he stage scenes like the one in which two of them invade a karaoke bar, and though neither of them can sing very well, we're supposed to believe they quickly have half the island populace raptly watching their performance?
Yet "Bigger Splash" inadvertently provides the truthful end to that sentence: "...only to each other." In terms of image and editing, the film is flashy in often pointless, mannered ways that to my mind are neither beautiful or interesting...just show-offy and empty, the flourishes of a director who thinks flamboyant stylistic gestures = a true "artist," without worrying what they actually MEAN, if anything.
Rock-star Marianne (Tilda Swinton) is recuperating on an Italian island after throat surgery, with her film-maker lover (Mattias Schoenaerts) for company.
World famous singer Marianne Lane (Swinton), temporarily mute from a recent throat operation, is enjoying a relaxing holiday with her doting film-maker boyfriend Paul De Smedt (Schoenaerts) on a remote idyllic Italian island.
Much to their initial annoyance, Lane's manic music producer and ex-boyfriend Harry Hawkes (Fiennes) turns up with his newly discovered daughter Penelope (Johnson) to gate- crash the tranquillity.A Bigger Splash is a character development masterclass by Guadagnino.
Only then do you realise just how well the film has branded its characters into your hide, and how desperate you are to know the outcome.Until the last half hour or so not much really happens in A Bigger Splash but you simply don't notice, such is the utter delight in watching a great cast develop complex characters with a wonderfully astute script..
A remake of Jacques Deray's 'La Piscine' (1969), 'A Bigger Splash' has attracted some big names: Ralph Fiennes, Tilda Swinton, Dakota Johnson and Matthias Schoenaerts make it a star-spangled vehicle indeed.Recuperating rock star Marianne Lane (Swinton) is on holiday with her lover Paul (Schoenaerts) when their peace and quiet is destroyed by that worst of all afflictions: the uninvited guest.
Star of the show, however, is definitely Swinton, who has very few lines (her character is supposed to refrain from speaking after a throat operation) but as she's in most scenes is required to get Marianne's opinions across through facial expression, miming, and sheer force of personality, which she manages splendidly.This is an engrossing film, with an interesting plot, good acting and lovely scenery (and not just of the countryside variety, either - all four leads get their kit off at some point, although I could have done with fewer such scenes from Mr Fiennes - he's in relatively good nick for a chap in his fifties, but things are starting to sag!) It's strange, though, that an Italian/French co-production is mainly in the English language!.
I ended up fast forwarding and was still bored.It's Ralph Fiennes' picture, he is a wonderful actor as is Tilda Swinton, but both performances are wasted here.Save your money and two hours of your time, this film is not worth either!.
Ralph Fiennes is manic, Tilda Swinton faffs around looking pale and (not particularly) interesting plus she isn't remotely convincing as a rock star (she barely exudes enough energy to make a cup of tea, let alone convince us that she could perform to a stadium of rock fans), Matthias Schoenaerts is nice eye candy and the other characters are just plain irritating.It's an adaptation of an old French film La Piscine.
Her ex-boyfriend and his current girlfriend join them, and things get strange as emotions are stirred.Given the great cast of Tilda Swinton and Ralph Fiennes, together with rising stars Matthias Schoenaerts and Dakota Johnson, I expected great things from "A Bigger Splash".
To keep the plot line taut there are only four actors who play out in two pairs and the chemistry is anything but harmonious.An almost silent Marianne (played by Tilda Swinton) is a once-famous rock star who is recuperating from throat surgery with her former alcoholic boyfriend Paul (Matthias Schoenaerts).
The fact that she only whispered in this film may have helped to minimize the stereotype factor that could have been there to a great degree and happily wasn't, as she played a rock star on vacation.This is the other thing I so enjoyed about A Bigger Splash: to a great extent it avoided stereotypes though the possibility of several were suggested in each of the four main characters and in the situations in which they found themselves.All this is to say that the story of these four people interacting on this fabulously beautiful Italian island was fresh and captivating, with outstanding acting and excellent script..
As the movie is based on 4 characters, who are staying on a secluded island in Italy, the director really needed an interesting script, which had different elements to keep it interesting throughout the whole 2 hours but most of the film was just about a couple, rock star Tilda Swinton (Marianne Lane) and Matthias Schoenaerts (Paul De Smedt), who get a visit from Marianne's ex boyfriend, Ralph Fiennes (Harry Hawkes) and his young daughter, Dakota Johnson (Penelope Lannier), while they are taking time out from there jobs after Marianne has had a throat operation and Paul is recovering from a attempt at suicide and battling with an alcohol addiction.
With that aside, it's still worth a watch just to see Fiennes on top form.Budget: N/A Worldwide Gross: $7.5millionI recommend this movie to people who are into their crime/mystery/dramas, starring Tilda Swinton, Ralph Fiennes, Dakota Johnson, Matthias Schoenaerts and Lily McMenamy.
Despite falling flat on certain points of the story, Luca Guadagnino, the film's director, beautifully captures not only the intense and profound relationships between his characters, but also is able to make good use of the European spirit, along with his cinematographer Yorick Le Saux, with stunning visuals shots of a variety of locations in the Italian island of Pantelleria.
Three considerably talented actors (let's leave Dakota Johnson out of the conversation, shall we?) are wasted in this borderline terrible movie about four unhappy people whose problems I cared absolutely nothing about.Throughout the film, snippets of news reports about the Syrian refugee crisis are juxtaposed to this quartet's dull collection of first-world problems, and the refugee situation is even used overtly as a plot device late in the film, so maybe that's the point.
The most compelling character is played by Matthias Schoenaerts (his past alludes to addiction and attempted suicide), but true to the rest of the movie, any sharp edges he might have been able to bring to the film are dulled by the general torpor.I had given up caring about happened to any of these people by the half-way point, a sure sign that the movie I'm watching is a dud.Grade: D.
In her latest collaboration with director Luca Guadagnino (I Am Love, 2009), Ms. Swinton's character remains mostly silent, save a few well placed whispers and one uncontrollable outburst, and she is certainly worth the price of that ticket.Adding to the movie fun here is a script by David Kajganich adapted from Alain Paige's story that was the basis for the 1969 film La Piscine.
Blowing into town like the upcoming sirocco winds is Marianne's former lover and former music producer Harry (Ralph Fiennes), along with his daughter Penelope (Dakota Johnson).
Ralph seemed like a nerdy English tourist.although i think Tilda is a good actress i found not one of the four of them erotic.it is an erotic plot after all.the scenery was very appealing but the sex appeal of the actors not.even Matthias and Dakota who are young and reasonably good looking they were entirely unappealing in this movie.don't know why.story does not climax.just..things happen.i think the idea is to find their vacation interesting.not a good movie.but i watched it till the very end.nice photography OK rhythm and as i said appealing scenery.and sorry Tilda but you are no Romy Schneider.fighting over her....
From the moment Ralph Fiennes appears as Harry, he plays his role with such fervor and energy that he simple blows everyone else from the screen, sorry Tilda Swinton (as Marianne) and Matthias Schoenaerts (as Paul).
The purpose of the movie was not lost on me, despite the filmmakers being far too subtle about it, but half way through the movie I realized that I no longer cared, even after the climax of the movie occurred I had no real feelings either way.I started out liking Tilda Swinton as a David Bowie inspired Rock star who just had a surgery that could end her career.
In the vein of Jacques Deray's unstimulating LA PISCINE (1969) and François Ozon's tantalizingly cagey SWIMMING POOL (2003), Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino's much anticipated follow-up of his family embroilment haute-coutrue drama, I AM LOVE (2009), A BIGGER SPLASH (the name hints a more adept reference of British artist David Hockney's pop art painting), debuted in last year's Venice, it centers on a close-knitted quartet's moral tug-of-war which sets its scenic background in the remote Italian island, Pantelleria, and swimming pool, again just like in I AM LOVE, functions as the metaphor for imminent man-made danger (Guadagnino cannot swim in real life).Marianne Lane (Swinton), a famed British rock star, enjoys her recuperation from a recent throat operation in Pantelleria with her boyfriend Paul De Smelt, a Belgian documentary filmmaker (Schoenaerts, finally returns to a role which he can act with his own nationality), but the unplanned arrival of Marianne's ex-boyfriend, the UK music producer Harry Hawkes (Fiennes) and his American daughter Penelope Lanier (Johnson), interrupts the lovey-dovey's intimate holiday.
The film will give its answer.Besides, there is some serious business to be done (for Harry, I mean), and pieces together from the infrequent flashbacks, audience will be informed that Paul is Harry's friend at the beginning, it is Harry who introduces him to Marianne, and no wonder Harry holds the grudge about being usurped like that (despite of his own philandering nature), but the point is, Marianne is really happy with Paul (explicitly shown by Paul's female-satisfying gesture in the chamber), maybe due to her voice-loss, she hasn't clearly manifested that the only reason she invites Harry to stay is for old time's sake, and hopes that their friendship remains, but in Harry's book, her hospitality betrays a promising signal, he is motivated, tests the water from Paul's reaction and revels in his street- smart gregariousness, until Marianne has to literally spell out her resolution in utterance, which effectively closes the case.In another pair, Paul and Penelope, the latter is the enigmatic variant in the quartet, who has never revealed her intentions, is she under the command of Harry to seduce Paul, to undermine their relationship, or is she really Harry's daughter?
Guadagnino habitually leaves many a lacuna like these to leaven the atmosphere of mystery and temptation, while the topical immigrant crisis, looms large in the background mostly and for once, precipitates an encounter unexpectedly, until cunningly exploited as a possible justification for the unpleasant death, which happens in the swimming pool and is closed with a polished zooming-out aviation shot, overall, the film's cinematography never fails to leave the island's unique topography untapped.The quartet core together concocts a palpable interplay between each of them, Ralph Fiennes is the MVP simply because he is all over the place and wondrous to behold under a fully liberated context, and at the same time his performance knowingly triggers a tint of abstruseness which belies the nature of every human soul; Swinton, to quote Penelope's offhand remark, "a very domesticated rock star", hemmed herself in Marianne's own verbal barrier and retreats to a less idiosyncratic realization of a woman in desperation to express her emotions through means other than words, she might not be convincing as a Rock-N-Roll superstar, but surely her Marianne is a woman who doesn't settle for second-rated commodity.Matthias Schoenaerts, as solid and desirable as one can divine, seems to be typecast as the even- tempered lover with a burly figure serving well as a bodyguard to the woman he loves, the truth is, his Paul is supposedly the most dangerous and unpredictable one among the four, yet, his barbaric spasm only materialises with a lukewarm thrill; meanwhile, Dakota Johnson, on the contrary, pulls off a staggering impression out of her cool-girl veneer, apart from the gratuitous nudity (so is for Mr. Fiennes), her breakdown in the end sparks off more empathy and tells more of her character than we give the credit for.The ending, with a massively anti-climatic caricature of the a celebrity's fandom, seems to be an odd choice to close a sturdily built character drama which scars has clearly forever marred those who have survived, and a takeaway advice: don't ever invite your ex to spend a holiday with you, it has proved to be lethally dangerous..
The film stars Tilda Swinton, Matthias Schoenaerts, Ralph Fiennes and Dakota Johnson.
It competed for the Golden Lion at the 72nd Venice International Film Festival.--Plot: -Marianne Lane (Tilda Swinton), a famous rock star, and her photographer boyfriend, Paul (Matthias Schoenaerts), are vacationing on the remote Italian island of Pantelleria, when they are disrupted by the unexpected visit of an old friend, Harry (Ralph Fiennes), and his daughter, Penelope (Dakota Johnson).--Critical reception: -On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a rating of 84%, based on 19 reviews, with an average rating of 7.9/10.
While The Graduate's pool is a transparent vehicle for displaying Benjamin's desires and mistakes, Marianne's (Tilda Swinton) pool in sunny Italy hides meanings just as the dust-laden sirocco will hide the land.Marianne's voice is mending from her rock singing, appropriately silencing her when her ex-love, Harry (Ralph Fiennes), arrives at the Italian seaside town where she and love Paul (Matthias Schoenaerts) are vacationing.
Director Luca Guadagnino specializes in short films and this 2-hour plus drawn out aimless tale overtaxes his ability to make a story poignant.Marianne Lane (Tilda Swinton) – an internationally famous rock star - has undergone throat surgery and is under order to not talk while she recovers.
They are disrupted by the unexpected visit of an old friend/lover Harry Hawkes (Ralph Fiennes) and his daughter Penelope Lannier (Dakota Johnson) - creating a whirlwind of jealousy, passion and, ultimately, danger for everyone involved.Much of the reason this film drags on a bit is the character of Henry Hawkes – obnoxiously overbearing at all times, getting on every one's nerves including the audience of the movie.
i would like to see a remake of the movie.I'm not really sure what the point of the movie was.I think they can keep the characters accept Ralph Fiennes and replace him with someone else , a good looking well build guy.
The movie stars Tilda Swinton (who also starred in 'I AM LOVE'), Ralph Fiennes, Matthias Schoenaerts and Dakota Johnson.
Ralph Fiennes, Dakota Johnson and Tilda Swinton may wander through A Bigger Splash naked (or nearly so), but it's director Luca Guadignino who's truly without clothes here.
I don't know the director but Ralph Fiennes, Matthias Schoenaerts and Tilda Swinton are all talented actors.
The plot is similar, featuring an aging record producer Harry (Ralph Fienees) involved in a love triangle with his former protégé, Marianne (Tilda Swinton), a rock singer and her current lover, Paul (Matthias Schoenaerts), a photographer.
Remake of a sixties French film La piscine (The Swimming Pool) about a rock star, Marianne Lane played by Tilda Swinton relaxing on their Italian island Pantalleria with her current partner Paul who is rocked when her ex-partner of six years Harry Hawkes (Ralph Fiennes), a rather eccentric music producer arrives on the island with his apparently 22 year old daughter Penelope (Dakota Johnson).