Elegy
Tags: flashback

Plot synopsis:
David Kepesh (Ben Kingsley) is an aging although quite virile cultural critic and professor, in a state of 'emancipated manhood.' Previously married, he has a son who has never forgiven him for leaving his mother. His relationships with women are usually casual, brief and sexual in nature. His Pulitzer Prize-winning friend, George O'Hearn (Dennis Hopper), suggests that he 'bifurcate' his life: have conversations and enjoy art with a wife, and 'keep the sex just for sex.'Believing himself to be an independent and self-actualized individual, he encounters Consuela Castillo (Penélope Cruz), a beautiful and confident grad student who takes one of his courses. She captures his attention like no other woman, and they fall in love. David is also in a casual yet carnal 20-year relationship with Caroline (Patricia Clarkson), another former student.Through voiceover narration and further conversations with George, David reveals his increasing desire for Consuela, and his insecure suspicion that she may be seeing other, younger men. He even follows her to a party one night and she catches him spying on her. When she tells him he must trust her, he assumes she wants to end their romance.Soon thereafter, he is surprised that she calls him for dinner, where she asks him, "What am I for you?' She wonders about their potential future, and he admits that the 30-odd-year age difference between them scares him. Meanwhile, his relationship with Caroline appears to end after she finds one of Consuela's tampons in David's bathroom.David explains in voiceover that he and Consuela were involved for another year, but, 'Like all roller coaster rides, it had to end.' One night over dinner, Consuela invites David to her graduation party, pleading with him to meet her parents. He is reluctant but agrees to attend, only on the day of the event, David phones Consuela and claims he is stuck in bad traffic. In reality, he is sitting in his car, anxious about meeting Consuela's family. Heartbroken and annoyed, Consuela calls back and tearfully acknowledges the end of their relationship.His son Kenny (Peter Sarsgaard) happens to show up that evening and tells David that he is cheating on his wife. Kenny is very conflicted, because he does not want to break up his family like David did, but the father has little sympathy for him. Kenny leaves in disgust.David thereafter sinks into a depression which George tries to help him through. George tells him that he's actually become closer to his wife lately, despite cheating on her before. Soon thereafter though, George collapses and, after kissing both his wife and David, he abruptly dies.Caroline comes back to visit David, and he eventually admits that he had a misguided affair with Conseula. They share a comfortable moment together, wondering if they are at last talking to each other after 20 years of sex.In another voiceover, David tells us that two years went by in which Consuela never called him again, and he tried to get over the death of George, but he admits to his ongoing pain.Suddenly on New Year's Eve, David receives a voice message from Consuela. She mentions that she needs to tell him something before he finds out from someone else. He worries that she will tell him she has found another man, or worse yet, ask for his blessing. When he calls her, she turns out to be just outside his building, eager to meet.Consuela tells David that she has breast cancer and will need an operation. Grief-stricken, David cries and asks her why she didn't tell him sooner. Consuela tells David that he loved her body like no one else, and asks him to take photos of her topless, before the doctors 'ruin' her breasts in the surgery. David agrees.David goes to see Kenny, who happens to be a doctor at the hospital where Consuela is having her operation, and asks for him to make an inquiry about her. Kenny suggests that her condition is quite serious.David visits Consuela later when she is recovering from her surgery. Consuela says, 'I will miss you.' David responds, 'I am here,' then he climbs into the hospital bed and gently kisses her face.In a flashback, we see the couple walking on the beach where Consuela told David she loves him.

Review: That is until he meets Penelope Cruz's Consuela Castillo, with whom he begins a pretty standard affair and, against all expectations, and much to his dismay, falls in love with her."Elegy" has some seriously good, sure footed performances.
Patrica Clarkson, as Kapesh's long standing mistress, defines hurt and betrayal, Penelope Cruz completely puts word to the lie of one daft critic who said that she simply cannot act in the English language, but the surprise here is Dennis Hopper: His performance as Kapesh's best friend is light years away from the eye rolling villain that he normally portrays to make a crust."Elegy" is erotic, touching and beautiful.
Peter Sarsgaard is also pretty good as Kingsley's son, and although Cruz doesn't shine as much as in "Non Ti Muovere", "Volver" or "Vicky Cristina Barcelona", she fits the role and makes you believe any man would be easily infatuated and obsessed with her.The ending might seem a little melodramatic at first, but it's both poignant and adequate.
David Kepesh (Ben Kingsley, in a performance of tremendous power and sensitivity) is an aging author, teacher and art critic, a man who has not learned the secret of lasting relationships but who retains his animal sex drive despite his passing years: he survives time's passing by a patterned assignation with Carolyn (Patricia Clarkson), an aging successful traveling business woman who drops in for sensual gratification when in town.
Kingsley is brilliant in this probing examination of the aging man's psyche, Cruz SHOULD have received her Oscar for this performance rather than the film that honored her, Clarkson continues to be one of our best actresses on the screen, Peter Sarsgaard makes a brief but important appearance, and David Hopper manages to step out of his predictable past roles and offer a character of true compassion and finesse.
"Elegy" was directed by Isabel Coixet though, who I really only know from the short film "Bastille", one of a group of films that can be found in the all-around beautiful love letter to Paris film, "Paris J'Taime." She seems well-suited for this love story, as do Kingsley and Penelope Cruz.
It's all material that has been worked over before in countless romances and the ending relies on that old romantic cliché of throwing in a fatal disease that threatens the life of one of the characters but in general director Isabel Coixet creates a moving, heartfelt love story complete with sensual sex scenes, beautiful piano-background music and some really nice (and tasteful) shots of Penelope Cruz's boobs and ass.There is also some really excellent acting going on in this movie.
Focusing on a relationship between a well-respected college professor (Ben Kingsley) and his former student (Penelope Cruz), 'Elegy' shows the audience a multi-faceted, complex man whose past experiences with women and his own family have dampered his ability to participate in a healthy relationship with a woman he is truly infatuated with.The film was carried by a masterful performance by Kingsley, who successfully portrayed Kepesh as a complex man with complex relationships.
Kingsley was able to spark empathy with the audience as a victim of numerous losses in his life: his wife, family, son, best friend, love interest (Cruz), and most importantly, it was his loss of youth that made Kepesh the man he is when we first meet him.I truly believed his internal struggles with adapting to life as a man romantically involved with a much younger woman (30 years his junior)..
David Kepesh (Kingsley), a college professor, falls head over heels in love with one of his students, Consuela (Cruz) who is 30-years his junior.
See where the movie title and book title are at odds?Yes, someone died, but not one of the major characters, David or Consuela, and the story was not about the one who died.We do not know why a beautiful woman, Consuela, would fall in love with David, who is 30-years older than she is.
Ben Kingsley's performance as a still-sexed sexagenarian professor, David Kepesh, who dates his students only after grades have been submitted, is a gem of understated accuracy for those of us who, as is my case, have done that seldom but memorably.More than capturing the ripe world of higher education dedicated to advancement of the mind and spirit (few professions can match that lofty goal), Elegy poetically portrays an aging Lothario facing his loss of time and independence: He falls for voluptuous student Consuela (Penelope Cruz), more than thirty years his junior, and proceeds to act like a teenager in love with all the jealousies and diffidence of inexperience.
It's very rare to find a movie that possesses such a quality.Even the best script in the world makes for a lousy film without the actors to sell it, besides Cruz being a tad old for the role the casting is inspired, Patricia Clarkson also leaves an impression as Kingsley's ever-giving yet never-demanding lover, perhaps the only woman who ever understood him, it's a beautiful character and Clarkson portrays here with grace and dignity.
Another brilliant acting turn by Ben Kingsley in this beautifully photographed film set in New York with a superb cast of Patricia Clarkson, Penelope Cruz, Dennis Hopper and Peter Sarsgaard, in a story which deals with human emotions and the pain of losing out on the true meaning of commitment and love.
Roth is best known literarily for "Portnoy's Complaint", and cinematically for "Goodbye Columbus" (both movies having featured Richard Benjamin), but this story deserves its place among his uvre.Director Isabel Coixet, probably better known for her French films, wore many hats, even acting as camera operator and music supervisor.
The ubiquitous Ben Kingsley plays the professor and "cultural critic," David Kepesh, the latest of Roth's recurrent alter egos--he was the protagonist of two of Roth's other recent novels.Words like "joyless" and "hushed" are used about this movie.
Isabel Coixet (who is indeed from Barcelona) has allowed her two lead actors, Ben Kingsley and Penelope Cruz, to burrow into their roles and produce an entirely credible story of a May and December relationship which seems doomed from the start, yet plays out in an unexpected fashion.
Based on the novel by Philip Roth and directed by Isabel Coixet, this film stars Ben Kingsley as culture critic and lecturer David Kepesh, and snapshots his life during the twilight years, where physical deterioration doesn't mean a proportionate deterioration in sex drive.Or at least that's what the character's first impression to the audience was.
While aware of the 30 odd years age gap separating them, that doesn't mean that he's going to give up his game of skirting around the sexual harassment decorum of the school.In fact, his physical relationship with his student form the crux of the film, about perceived societal pressure and disdain for cradle snatchers, of how one's initial motive of a short fling could turn out to be something more serious and emotional, and relationship insecurities on both sides - with one understandably jealous of some unseen, young strapping hunk there to take his lady love away, and of the other worried that there might be commitment issues with a man so advanced in his age.But what lifted this movie into a different emotional stratosphere, are the supporting cast and characters that surround David's life, either providing counsel, or problems and issues to deal with altogether.
A visibly aged Dennis Hopper plays David's best friend and poet George O'Hearn, who while on one hand goads him to do the right thing (or ending it all off), he too might seem a little hypocritical, and brings about a fleeting notion of infidelity to the table too.And it seems that dysfunctional characters in the relationship sense permeates through the film at every corner.
We have David's F*-buddy Carolyn (Patricia Clarkson) who's an alpha-female type character with all the luck at the professional level, but none whatsoever on the personal front, and David's estranged son Kenneth, played by the excellent and terribly under-rated actor Peter Sarsgaard, who shares some of the most poignant and memorable scenes in the movie opposite Ben Kingsley, trading some very quick witted barbs.Just as when you thought the film might seem to have reached is plateau, it surprises one with a startling development that would on one hand seem to satisfy the voyeur in the audience (given the rating, and consistent audible yawns during the non-sexual moments), but on the other push through that sense of regret that makes you feel for the characters.Excellent acting from the ensemble cast, and with relationship themes that many could identify with, would make Elegy earn that recommended status from me..
But on an emotional level, it feels made for an older, may-or-maybe not wiser audience that knows this kind of character of David Kepesh (Ben Kingsley) who's accomplished a lot as far as his career goes as a professor and author but is older (early 60s) and without a real significant love until 30-something Consuela (Penelope Cruz).
It's very much in tune with that fear of aging, fear of not having really loved (if maybe, consequently, lots of loss), and it's actually much more recommendable for that older audience than those of a younger crowd who are tuning in, more or less, for a glimpse of Cruz's mammaries.As far as these older-professor-in-love-with-younger-woman tales go, Husbands and Wives had a better grasp of it in just the scope of a sub-plot, and if it feels slightly like a retread (or that you'd rather just read the original Philip Roth story), it's not without reason.
Yet it's also enjoyable for the intimate atmosphere from director Coixet and seeing people like Kingsley and Cruz and Hopper and Sarsgaard in smaller roles doing work in a real "film", not a movie, and fulfilling their characters quite succinctly.
I liked director Isabel Coixet's two previous film.My Life Without Me and The Secret Life of Words had been quite solid and deep movies.And even though I would consider Elegy inferior to those ones, I also found it interesting.This movie is far from being great,but it avoids many problems from her previous movies,at the same time it was an interesting experience to me,something completely different to My Life Without Me and The Secret Life of Words.I usually do not praise the title of a movie but,in this case,I have to do it.An elegy is a poetic lament which announces the lost of something...or somebody.And I think that word perfectly summarizes the message and content from this movie.If you see this film,you will understand what I am talking about.The main character from Elegy uses a dug intellectualism to seduce Consuela (the other main character),and on some way,I think the movie uses the same trick with the spectator.Elegy has many solemn dialogs and reflexive ideas but,beyond their surface,I found them as a methodical trick the movie uses to make the spectator feel impressed with its apparent intelligence.In other words,I think this movie thinks it is more intelligent than what it really is,and I think that's the worst fail from it.Another negative element is that some moments felt a little bit boring.The character of Professor Kepesh is very interesting because of his emotional complexity.I think that character was perfectly developed by the screenplay,although I must add that it also helps it was performed by Ben Kingsley,who brings a phenomenal performance.He is so involved with his character that he never seems to be acting at all.An extraordinary achievement from Kingsley which was unfortunately ignored.Penélope Cruz is an excellent actress but,for some reason,she did not convince me too much with her performance on this movie.I think she could not completely become into her character.Patricia Clarkson is brilliant as always and,although her appearance is not too long,she shows credibility and conviction.And I also appreciated the performance from the great Dennis Hopper,which is serious and honest,although it has a touch of irreverent humor.Coixet's sparing direction works well because it lets the story to be developed with sobriety and elegance,but without loosing the emotional impact from certain scenes.Elegy is far from being a great movie but I had an interesting experience watching it.I think that a little bit less of pretentiousness on the screenplay would have worked better but this movie deserves a recommendation in spite of its fails..
Film Review: "Elegy" (2007)Writer Nicholas Meyer, also know for directing two of the most accomplished Star Trek movies with the original crew from 1966 - "The Wrath of Khan" (1982) and "The Undiscovered Country" (1991) respectively - prepared an adaptation of a Philip Roth novel from 2001 with the original title "The Dying Animal"; yet did not dare to direct for second time after also-arranging the screenplay for "The Human Stain" (2003) starring Nicole Kidman and Sir Anthony Hopkins based on another Roth's novel out of the year 2000, where the direction went to Hollywood veteran Robert Benton (born 1932).The direction for "Elegy" had been given to female director Isabel Coixet by producers Tom Rosenberg and Gary Lucchesi, who fairly prepares her leading actors Sir Ben Kingsley as the teaching Professor David Kepesh and actress Penélope Cruz as his student Consuelo Castillo to ongoing screen chemistry; nevertheless at no time get them to get out of the comfort zone to make a daring step towards heart-breaking melodrama with a thrilling touch.
Instead writer Nicholas Meyer and the director decide to change the novel's ending to an lesser effect of dramatic mediocrity under further at times high-tension build-ups cinematography with a long dolly-push-in take within a Manhattan apartment's living room onto the character of Kepesh reminiscencing on an all to present death allegory in modern life.But then again the direction of Isabel Coixet denies itself consequence in jumping between relieving suspense-blocking scenes with David Kepesh's best friend George O'Hearn, portrayed by welcoming final screen appearances of deceased actor Dennis Hopper (1936-2010) and actress Patricia Clarkson as the character of Carolyn, who saves the leading man any time, when some on-screen conflicts might start to hurt to break open a darker passage towards thriller elements instead given chances away for considerably unnecessary - due to the initial novel subject matter - happy ends.© 2017 Felix Alexander Dausend (Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC).
A distinguished, divorced, 60-something professor and cultural critic, David Karesh (Ben Kinsgley), who seems to have all his ducks in a row, does something dangerous; he falls in love with a beautiful student 35-years his junior.I didn't know what to expect from this film but there are twists here, which eventually touch deep truths.
I must admit "Elegy" had me on the edge of my seat as Ben Kingsley's David Karesh mismanages his affair with the stunning Consuela Castillo (Penelope Cruz), believing it too good to be true and that it won't last; almost unconsciously doing things to make sure it doesn't.
All this as she demonstrates her love for him, even wanting him to meet the parents.Ben Kingsley's David Karesh is polished and confident, his celebrity as a critic combined with a cultivated style and a passion for art adds to his charisma.At one point in his seduction of Consuela he shows her a picture of Goya's "The Clothed Maja" (La maja vestida) telling her it looks like her, Of course Goya also did a nude version (La maja desnuda) and by the end of the film Consuela mimics that pose for Karesh in circumstances you don't see coming.Karesh is also having a long running affair with another woman who avoids commitment as much as he does.
His friend, George (Dennis Hopper), who he turns to for advice is definitely of the do as I say, not as I do school, and he is estranged from his tightly-buttoned son, Kenneth (Peter Sarsgaard).By the end though, the student becomes the teacher as Consuela imparts important life lessons to the professor, mainly about himself.David Karesh's narration throughout the film is full of painfully gained insights and wisdom, especially on what it means to get old "Old age sneaks up on you, and the next thing you know you are asking yourself why can't an old man act his real age?
Ben Kingsley plays the part of 60ish (in two different respects) author, social critic, and professor David Kepesh convincingly enough, and Penelope Cruz truly shines as Consuela Castillo, a student from Cuba who becomes his lover immediately after grades have been posted.
The love story between the deeply-cultured, charming although ageing professor who seduces, through art, literature and theatre lessons, the young and, of course, comely student, sounds a little dejà vu, and above all it develops through banal dialogues and too much affected, unrealistic situations (the girl lying naked wearing high heels shoes, while David is playing the piano makes really one think if these sorts of things happen only in Manhattan!).The characters themselves appear too fictitious, even pathetic, mainly the oldish Kingsley, who has embarrassing exchanges with his oldish friend, talking about having adventures or serious stories, and really cutting the very poor figure of a very cultured, and experienced man, but showing the emotional maturity of a teenager.
In addition to Kingsley and Cruz, they include Patricia Clarkson as Carolyn, Kepesh's long-time lover who is closer to his age than Consuela, and Dennis Hopper as George O'Hearn, a friend with whom Kepesh talks about women.
"Elegy" is Director Isabel Coixet's film adaptation of Phillip Roth's best seller of the senior-aged college professor David Kepesh and his passionate romance with the stunning college student Consuelo.
In this film, Ben Kingsley, giving a good performance but saddled with a glum character, plays the intellectual, and Penelope Cruz plays the young woman.
This movie, taken from Philip Roth's book The Dying Animal, stars Ben Kingsley (64) as David and Peneolope Cruz (34) as Consuela .
However, in Elegy Kingsley plays David, a narcissistic, horny aging professor who regularly seduces his young students --Stop spoiler alert -- including Consuela, a Mexican beauty, thirty years younger than he.
Ben Kingsley's character falls in love/lust with his much-younger student, played by Penelope Cruz.