In terms of romantic films there is always a formula. I mean, if the formula didn't exist we wouldn't get any movies. Sometimes it's really hard to admit, when we have seen a movie and liked it, but clichés don't stop, ever. People need some inspiration to make stuff, if not.
We are arriving to "The Sleeping Dictionary". Well, this movie's concept is totally interesting. I haven't read about "sleeping dictionaries" anywhere, but it is fair subject to treat. A woman, who teaches you the native language of a place you're living in, and also, sleeps with you.
The English man arrives to Sarawak and, after a series of events (shot with a camera constantly showing the two main characters, like if we didn't know they're going to fall in love), he is given a sleeping dictionary. But, well, he is an educated man, carrying his country's spirits. These ones won't let him "sleep" with the "sleeping dictionary". Although they will probably sleep together sooner or later, just to make the movie work. Please don't get me wrong, I'm not against love stories, I like them very much. But I'm against love stories I have already seen, when they're a little different.
I'll explain. This is also a drama. There's passion involved, there is other people involved. A family, a tribe. But like I said, the camera is making things obvious, and the script is kind of ruining them, because it doesn't give the characters the development they probably need, making us doubt about their feelings. I couldn't really fell the love John Truscott had for Selima. The movie explains to us that's real love. But then, real love is also what John feels for Cecil, which is nothing. Just as the love Henry feels for Aggie. Obliged love? Possibly. If John chooses Selima it's because the movie may seem deeper than if he chooses Cecil. All this is because of how subjects are treated in the film. Everything is obvious; not just the situations in general, but what each character will do about them, what each character will say.
This could be like a modern "Pocahontas", now that I think of it. It has, as I said, some new elements, and some original ones, and of course, some coming from other stories also. Could be "Pocahontas", or just not. Bob Hoskins should have been offered a nice number to do this, but it's good to see him. Then, Alba is not making an improvement with this role, nor is Dancy. The others are there, and it would be the same if they wouldn't. It would be the same if there was no one there.
Just to say, the film makes the viewer wait to much. I mean, finish it at once! I say this because the movie attempts to end several times, and, although we already know the ending, we are willing to see it. But we will not be if you're just creating another sub-plot to make the film longer. This is a long film.
Characters not always come as one-dimensional as in this movie. And performances don't come as soft also. Everything about the movie is soft. People wanted to do it; but just softly. There's not much more to say. We get used to these things.
We are arriving to "The Sleeping Dictionary". Well, this movie's concept is totally interesting. I haven't read about "sleeping dictionaries" anywhere, but it is fair subject to treat. A woman, who teaches you the native language of a place you're living in, and also, sleeps with you.
The English man arrives to Sarawak and, after a series of events (shot with a camera constantly showing the two main characters, like if we didn't know they're going to fall in love), he is given a sleeping dictionary. But, well, he is an educated man, carrying his country's spirits. These ones won't let him "sleep" with the "sleeping dictionary". Although they will probably sleep together sooner or later, just to make the movie work. Please don't get me wrong, I'm not against love stories, I like them very much. But I'm against love stories I have already seen, when they're a little different.
I'll explain. This is also a drama. There's passion involved, there is other people involved. A family, a tribe. But like I said, the camera is making things obvious, and the script is kind of ruining them, because it doesn't give the characters the development they probably need, making us doubt about their feelings. I couldn't really fell the love John Truscott had for Selima. The movie explains to us that's real love. But then, real love is also what John feels for Cecil, which is nothing. Just as the love Henry feels for Aggie. Obliged love? Possibly. If John chooses Selima it's because the movie may seem deeper than if he chooses Cecil. All this is because of how subjects are treated in the film. Everything is obvious; not just the situations in general, but what each character will do about them, what each character will say.
This could be like a modern "Pocahontas", now that I think of it. It has, as I said, some new elements, and some original ones, and of course, some coming from other stories also. Could be "Pocahontas", or just not. Bob Hoskins should have been offered a nice number to do this, but it's good to see him. Then, Alba is not making an improvement with this role, nor is Dancy. The others are there, and it would be the same if they wouldn't. It would be the same if there was no one there.
Just to say, the film makes the viewer wait to much. I mean, finish it at once! I say this because the movie attempts to end several times, and, although we already know the ending, we are willing to see it. But we will not be if you're just creating another sub-plot to make the film longer. This is a long film.
Characters not always come as one-dimensional as in this movie. And performances don't come as soft also. Everything about the movie is soft. People wanted to do it; but just softly. There's not much more to say. We get used to these things.