In Paris for the spring of 1968, cute California exchange student Michael Pitt (as Matthew) meets magnetically sexy twins Eva Green and Louis Garrel (as Isabelle and Theo). The young threesome come together via their love for old movies, and mutual attractiveness. Call them sexy cinephiles. When the twins' parents take a month-long holiday, Mr. Pitt is invited to stay over. The trio discuss old movies, as director Bernardo Bertolucci expertly initiates star "cameos" with Garbo (as "Queen Christina") and Ms. Green memorizing bedrooms. While well-stacked Green puts on a "Big Brother" record (an advance copy?), the guys debate Chaplin versus Keaton. Pitt picks Buster, while Mr. Garrel favors Charlie. They run Godard's "Bande a part" (1964).
The three drink a lot of wine and walk sexily around the house, undressing, while student protesters gather outside
Mr. Bertolucci's visually beautiful film misses the mark in a couple of crucial areas. The Parisian place is perfect, but the 1968 appearance isn't; led by Pitt's long-in-the-front modern hairstyle and Green's untimely make-up, the players never really look like they have much to do with the heavily evoked setting. You can't dig it. Only Garrel looks like he could've been there. With supplies so low on bell bottoms, chain belts, and Nehru jackets, "The Dreamers" should have used a more modern setting; but, looks aren't everything. Most importantly not too "groovy" was the decision to cut writer Gilbert Adair's sexual experimenting between Pitt and Garrel, while leaving in the tease; this is the critical blow, and it hurts the intertwined trio's relationship considerably.
****** The Dreamers (9/1/03) Bernardo Bertolucci ~ Michael Pitt, Eva Green, Louis Garrel, Robin Renucci
The three drink a lot of wine and walk sexily around the house, undressing, while student protesters gather outside
Mr. Bertolucci's visually beautiful film misses the mark in a couple of crucial areas. The Parisian place is perfect, but the 1968 appearance isn't; led by Pitt's long-in-the-front modern hairstyle and Green's untimely make-up, the players never really look like they have much to do with the heavily evoked setting. You can't dig it. Only Garrel looks like he could've been there. With supplies so low on bell bottoms, chain belts, and Nehru jackets, "The Dreamers" should have used a more modern setting; but, looks aren't everything. Most importantly not too "groovy" was the decision to cut writer Gilbert Adair's sexual experimenting between Pitt and Garrel, while leaving in the tease; this is the critical blow, and it hurts the intertwined trio's relationship considerably.
****** The Dreamers (9/1/03) Bernardo Bertolucci ~ Michael Pitt, Eva Green, Louis Garrel, Robin Renucci