DIRECTOR: Leos Carax
WRITERS: Ron Mael, Russell Mael
STARRING: Adam Driver, Marion Cotillard and Simon Helberg
As we enter into the new, and fast paced relationship of Comedian Henry (Adam Driver) and Ann (Marion Cotillard), we soon find that the flame between the two of them is burning hard and fast. As Ann’s career soars within her Operatic existence, Henry’s comedy gigs are hitting the skids, making for a storybook she vs. he careers power struggle.
Venturing into marriage just the same, it’s not long before Ann is with child, producing what seems to be her prodigy in the making. As their relationship seems to be imploding more and more with each passing week, Ann turns to carry for Annette to bring some solace into her life.
When tragedy strikes, and Henry finds himself as the main suspect to Ann’s demise, he reaches out to Ann’s friend, the conductor (Simon Helberg), which seems to as focused as Henry is, on carry for Annette, and her profound gift of singing, at a very young age.
Let the whirlwind existence for them all begin, as they travel the world, sharing Annette’s talent. But, as they all will soon find, Annette begins to mature, as most children do, and she’s not as sold on following Daddy’s directions, as she knows the truth about her father’s evil ways…knowing that there is no better time than the present, in giving his secret’s away…
I give ANNETTE a rating of 1/5 – so Catch this one on Amazon Prime, and only if you love Adam Driver as much as I do. This creation by Leos Carax, originally formatted as a musical to be recorded by the band Sparks, is one of the most unconventional and disconcerting musicals I’ve ever viewed. I honestly don’t think that I have ever seen a musical that I couldn’t at some point enjoy the material within, until now. This film was truly painful watch, and once it was through, I just wanted to go view another Adam Driver film, to get this one out of my head. You can tell from the start that it’s a passion project for everyone involved, and that it seems as if we have made a film, when we should have made a stage play. You also notice from the start that Driver is definitely the “man of the hour” for this one, as it pretty much is all about his character, and his many, many issues. Cotillard’s performance and singing voice throughout are beautiful, but the chemistry you truly need for this creation I just didn’t feel between her and Driver, even within the sex scenes. The music within this film is so basic, and condensed within telling its own story, that it begins to falter for me just as much, as the painfulness I experienced over the fact that their beautifully talented daughter Annette is played throughout most of the film, by a doll. I truly think that Carax and the Mael brothers should have just let Sparks make their album, and left it at that, as it’s been a long time since I had so much angst trying to get through a movie, much less a musical, that seemed to have so much potential with its incredible cast, but yet manages to be so painfully boring to experience.
1/5
MATINEE CHAT with Kathy Kaiser 