4 stars (out of 5)
This epic, powerfully emotional drama from co-writer/co-producer/director James Gray is easily his best film (after more OTT efforts like The Yards, We Own The Night and Two Lovers), and certainly his most visually beautiful.
It’s 1921, and Polish sisters Ewa Cybulska (Marion Cotillard) and Magda (Angela Sarafyan) have sailed to New York for their shot at the American dream. However, upon arrival at Ellis Island (a place of gorgeously-photographed chaos and pain), it’s discovered that Magda has ‘lung disease’ and she’s forcibly quarantined, leaving ‘morals risk’ Ewa to face the mean streets of Manhattan on her own. When Bruno Weiss (Joaquin Phoenix in his fourth film for Gray), a complex, unpredictable man, spots Ewa, he seems immediately moved by her plight, and manages to spirit her away to an apartment and a chance to try out with his theatrical troupe. It’s a surprise to Ewa (but not to us) that Bruno’s ladies not only do bawdy burlesque shows but, as well, are prostitutes on the side, and while he’s very supportive and fair with payment, he nonetheless asks Ewa to ‘perform’. And when she meets Bruno’s cousin Emil aka ‘Orlando The Magician’ (wonderful Jeremy Renner), she appears to be smitten by his showy ways and romantic charms – or is she just using him to get out of this desperate situation?
There’s no doubt that this a production made in the style of classic Hollywood: Ellis Island and Manhattan are captured with dozens of extras and an eye for sumptuous or seedy design and detail instead of the expected reams of easy CG effects, and the colour is exquisite, meaning that this always looks hauntingly like sepia photographs. And Cotillard (heartbreaking), Phoenix (as volatile as ever) and Renner (hugely charismatic) offer excellent performances that, of course, didn’t win them Oscars.
I Wake Up Screening 