 |
CS
Weekly Archive > Weekend Read > 03/23/07
Wing Man
By james napoli
Angel-A
Luc Besson (also directed)
Writer-director Luc Besson is our guide through a life-affirming landscape of redemption via angelic visitation, but Angel-A's gorgeous black-and-white cinematography only serves to underscore how Besson may well have benefited from more "show" and less "tell." After years of being a lying, petty Parisian criminal, André (Jamel Debbouze) has nothing left to live for, and decides to jump off a bridge. But wait! Before you can say Frank Capra, an even more despondent (and much more leggy) waif named Angela (Rie Rasmussen) plummets to the water first. André selflessly saves her, of course, and though the blatant homage to George Bailey and Clarence ends there, Angel-A is nonetheless intent on delivering the message that everyone is worthy of love. Besson punks out the proceedings with Angela, who relishes her latest earthly incarnation, which can best be described as Aimee Mann meets slutty guttersnipe. As she guides André to his salvation, though, it begins to feel as if a highly self-conscious layer of grime has been slapped haphazardly onto the shopworn guardian- angel premise, a feeling exacerbated by Besson's tendency of giving his characters heavy-handed speeches about acknowledging their inner beauty. Still, the whole effort just about squeaks by on the strength of its two lead performers, who commit so fully to the symbolic nature of their roles that we press on through this 24-frames-per-second polemic out of respect for their sweet depictions of two disarmingly earthbound lives.
Angel-A
Sony Pictures Classics
Rated R; 88 min.
Buy tickets now
James Napoli has a Masters Degree from the London International Film School, wrote and directed two award-winning short films, teaches a creative writing class for screenwriters, and is the head writer of live original radio plays for XM Satellite Radio's New Frequency.
Angel-A courtesy Sony Pictures Classics
|
 |
From
the Trenches
Working screenwriters discuss
in their own words a particular
aspect of screenwriting,
from the mechanics of writing
to the personal and professional
impact that writing has
had on their lives. >
VIEW
ARCHIVE
The
Art of Craft
Screenwriting experts discuss
how to approach various
aspects of writing and the
writing life. A mini-seminar
each week from the people
who write the books and
teach the classes. >
VIEW
ARCHIVE
The Big Picture
Features that cover all aspects of screenwriting, from our "Seven Best" lists to analysis of old favorites and new classics. > VIEW ARCHIVE
Expert
Witness
A panel of experts assembled
to provide the facts about
the screenwriting business.
Readers will be able have
their questions answered
by an agent, producer, entertainment
attorney, and WGA representative—and
without paying that 10%
commission. > VIEW
ARCHIVE
Son
of a Pitch
A weekly tutorial on how
to write a script. Each
week deals with a different
element of creating a script,
with the ultimate goal to
provide a step-by-step instruction
manual for new writers.
The guide for this is a
writer just diving into
screenwriting himself, who
asks the pros questions
any new screenwriter would
have about this brave new
world. > VIEW
ARCHIVE
Weekend
Read
Film, book, web site and technology reviews from a
writer’s perspective. How can these items help
a writer on his or her journey, or make that journey
more enjoyable? > VIEW
ARCHIVE
DVD
Review of the Day
DVD reviews from a writer’s point of view. What
aspects of this script and features of this DVD illuminate
the writing, development, and storytelling process?
> VIEW ARCHIVE
|
|
