I don't know why Camille was marketed as a quirky comedy; it's so sad! Watching the preview will give you an entirely different idea of the full movie, so when you rent it, take along a couple of Kleenexes just in case.
Sienna Miller starts the movie as a silly, vapid, chatty, bride-to-be looking forward to a honeymoon at Niagara Falls. James Franco isn't looking forward to getting married, but he feels stuck since Sienna's uncle, Scott Glenn, is his parole officer. Sienna's terribly in love with him, but he's sick of her and has trouble saying his vows. During a motorcycle accident on the way to Niagara Falls, Sienna is killed. Here's where the sad drama comes in: her spirit is revived, and she doesn't realize she's dead. Sienna's body starts to smell and decay, but she's just as anxious as ever to continue the journey with her husband to Niagara Falls. As the movie continues, Franco's guilt and pity make way to love as he struggles to keep her as alive as he can.
The one fault I found with this movie was the huge change in Sienna's character from life to death. She's no longer silly and irritatingly chatty after the accident, so when Franco falls in love with her, he's not suddenly realizing value in qualities he initially despised. To me, that's not the greatest fault in the world, so I was still able to really enjoy this fantasy drama.
I'm still struggling to figure out why this movie was marketed as an offbeat romance. The preview makes dramatic lines seem funny; when James Franco finally admits his wife is dead to David Carradine, it's a dramatic moment, not a chance to show off his comic timing. The promotional poster shows Sienna in her horrendously fake red wig, but it doesn't explain why she's wearing it. In the movie, as her body decays, her hair falls out. Franco robs a cosmetic store to help her skin look like it still has some color, and on the way out of the store as the alarm blares, he grabs a red wig off a mannequin. Sienna is sobbing when he gives her the wig, but somehow the studio wanted would-be audiences to think it was quirky?
This movie is extremely sad, and helped along with Mark Mancina's tearjerker music, and it makes you think about showing appreciation for those you love while you can. Both leads give very strong, convincing performances that change throughout the film. Characters are always more interesting, and actors are given a bigger range, when they change and grow. Sienna goes through an obvious change, and she also has to face acceptance of what has and is going to happen to her body and spirit. Franco starts the movie stubborn, grumpy, rude, and mean. He's unlikable and has a long way to go before the audience can forgive him, but through his tender and sympathetic expressions, he changes into someone sweet, deep-feeling, and likable.
This probably isn't a great choice to watch on a first date, but if you're in the mood to have a good cry with your girlfriends, go ahead and rent it. You'll get a lot out of it, and you'll be really impressed by both leads.
Sienna Miller starts the movie as a silly, vapid, chatty, bride-to-be looking forward to a honeymoon at Niagara Falls. James Franco isn't looking forward to getting married, but he feels stuck since Sienna's uncle, Scott Glenn, is his parole officer. Sienna's terribly in love with him, but he's sick of her and has trouble saying his vows. During a motorcycle accident on the way to Niagara Falls, Sienna is killed. Here's where the sad drama comes in: her spirit is revived, and she doesn't realize she's dead. Sienna's body starts to smell and decay, but she's just as anxious as ever to continue the journey with her husband to Niagara Falls. As the movie continues, Franco's guilt and pity make way to love as he struggles to keep her as alive as he can.
The one fault I found with this movie was the huge change in Sienna's character from life to death. She's no longer silly and irritatingly chatty after the accident, so when Franco falls in love with her, he's not suddenly realizing value in qualities he initially despised. To me, that's not the greatest fault in the world, so I was still able to really enjoy this fantasy drama.
I'm still struggling to figure out why this movie was marketed as an offbeat romance. The preview makes dramatic lines seem funny; when James Franco finally admits his wife is dead to David Carradine, it's a dramatic moment, not a chance to show off his comic timing. The promotional poster shows Sienna in her horrendously fake red wig, but it doesn't explain why she's wearing it. In the movie, as her body decays, her hair falls out. Franco robs a cosmetic store to help her skin look like it still has some color, and on the way out of the store as the alarm blares, he grabs a red wig off a mannequin. Sienna is sobbing when he gives her the wig, but somehow the studio wanted would-be audiences to think it was quirky?
This movie is extremely sad, and helped along with Mark Mancina's tearjerker music, and it makes you think about showing appreciation for those you love while you can. Both leads give very strong, convincing performances that change throughout the film. Characters are always more interesting, and actors are given a bigger range, when they change and grow. Sienna goes through an obvious change, and she also has to face acceptance of what has and is going to happen to her body and spirit. Franco starts the movie stubborn, grumpy, rude, and mean. He's unlikable and has a long way to go before the audience can forgive him, but through his tender and sympathetic expressions, he changes into someone sweet, deep-feeling, and likable.
This probably isn't a great choice to watch on a first date, but if you're in the mood to have a good cry with your girlfriends, go ahead and rent it. You'll get a lot out of it, and you'll be really impressed by both leads.