7 of 10
Cinematography by Allen Daviau
Christian Bale
John Malkovich
Miranda Richardson
Nigel Havers
Joe Pantoliano
Masat� Ibu
Takatoro Kataoka
Ben Stiller
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| Empire of the Sun 7 of 10 |
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| Directed by Steven Spielberg Cinematography by Allen Daviau Christian Bale John Malkovich Miranda Richardson Nigel Havers Joe Pantoliano Masat� Ibu Takatoro Kataoka Ben Stiller |
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| Spielberg is often criticized for his excessive sentimentality; the good guys always win, his heroes are always recognized as heroes (even if they die), and his kids/aliens always end up happy and at home. And this film has often been sited as an example of this over-sentimentalization. So I was prepared for something along Spielberg�s typical �ET� lines, sort of a Life Is Beautiful approach to WWII, sprinkled with humor and a gentle, loving approach to the young protagonist. Instead, I got something much darker, much larger in scope, and much more complex than I was expecting. And also much better. This is a film about the destruction of childhood, rather than its preservation. Jim, played wonderfully by Christian Bale, has a nearly unique character arc for a Spielberg film. He starts out as a stereotypical spoiled rich British youngster, but ends up as an emotionally scarred and overwhelmed kid trapped somewhere between childhood and adulthood. The ending is far more bitter-sweet than I would have expected; Bale returns to his family, to be sure. But he will never be the same, and it is far from clear that he is better off because of his experience. (Now I know where A.I. came from.) The rest of the cast is fairly workmanlike � we even get a Ben Stiller cameo � with the huge exception of John Malkovich. His Basie is the glue that really holds the film together, and a truly amazing character study. Which brings me to my greatest objection: Basie should not be the glue; Jim should. But the story is too meandering for that. I found myself wondering what exactly was happening to Jim emotionally during a lot of the more disconnected vignettes in the camp. It seemed like Spielberg was losing a bit of his grip on the story there. The result is a very powerful film that seems to lose focus right about the time Jim reaches the camp, and stays lost for most of the conclusion. (It sure gives a big payoff at the end; there is no denying that.) But my objection still remains; I can�t tell where Jim is going, often. And although the ending definitely makes his final destination clear, it fails to give sufficient reason for that destination. Visually, a true delight; and filled with a host of truly memorable images. It also contains possibly the most powerfully understated version of the atomic bomb ever put to film. My finaly impression was of a a film that is finally much more unforgettable than it is lovable. But most importantly, a film from a filmmaker who is far more serious and unsentimental than people give him credit for. | |||||||