Review of Camille

Camille (I) (2008)
6/10
Weird but cute
22 May 2010
If you like realist fantasies such as Groundhog Day, or Stranger than Fiction, Camille is the movie for you. It qualifies as a good movie, although barely. It feels like more could have been done with the story, but it is definitely safe to say that Camille is original, and charming. For some people that may be enough.

This is the story of the most contrived and surreal honeymoon trip to Niagra Falls. A young thief, Silias, is on parole so he can marry Camille, the sheriff's niece. He doesn't love her, and she is kind of self centred, but if he doesn't go ahead with this, he goes back in the hole. They depart for the falls in a lousy little bike and side car, and they barely get a mile before they have an accident, which becomes a chain reaction for a weird and wonderful remainder of the journey, and perhaps a chance for Silias feelings to grow.

There are two things that Camille would've needed to be on par with the great realist fantasies (such as Groundhog Day). It feels a bit shallow for one thing, and its beauty is only skin deep. For another, it is obvious that the story doesn't take itself seriously and some bits are played for laughs, but not enough to make it work as a comedy. It could have been a tad funnier.

Sienna Miller's career is still young, but each time I see her, I realize that she is capable of variety. She has been to the Venitian Baroque era (Casanova), To Edwardian England (The Edge of Love), A killer super villain in black leather (G.I. Joe) although she wasn't all that great there. Here she plays a really big narcissist but one with a cute touch. She totally upstages James Franco, who has never really done much for me.

I don't think Camille will disappoint. It could use a few touches here and there, but it is likable.
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