Unlimitedia Sick Product of a Sick System

JinRoz For all the hype it got I was expecting a lot more!

AnhartLinkin This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Chantel Contreras It is both painfully honest and laugh-out-loud funny at the same time.

merelyaninnuendo Clouds Of Sils Maria3 And A Half Out Of 5Clouds Of Sils Maria is a character driven dramatic feature that takes place within a short span where an actress is preparing for a character and goes through emotional trauma that may be a bit gothic but is poetic too.The premise itself guides the sense of urgency that is wisely kept alive throughout the course of it where the ticking clock behind the screen might not create the anticipated impact but certainly makes the experience electrifying. Addition to that, it also depicts one of the most unexplored relationship (the actress and her assistant) which gives it a jump start on fresh material and perspective. Assayas' world in here is free from any habitual or satirical restraints; similar to its locations, which in fact is its strength and weakness on its own terms. The writing is adaptive and gripping if not anything out of the box, especially the cards it holds up the sleeve until the last act hits on screen. It is rich on technical aspects like metaphorical cinematography and fine editing whilst is short on background score. The camera work is up close and handled manually which works its way on helping to connect with the characters and stunning visuals and live locations that demands attention. Pragmatic conversation, intriguing concept and poetic tone are the high points of this feature. Binoche is poised, vulnerable and achingly good on her portrayal whilst Stewart is confident and a rigid supporter of hers in each frame. Assayas; the writer-director, may not be in his A game but is surely convincing on his execution and sharp script that cuts deepest in here. Clouds Of Sils Maria is more frizzier than clear due to the amount of time and characters that it consumes to set in a greater scene.

Love_Life_Laughter When we first meet Maria Enders, played by Juliet Binoche, she is draped in furs and surrounded by the other accoutrements of success and fame as a respected actress, including Val, a subservient and admiring administrative assistant. As we watch, she is stripped of her trappings of success and power, step by step. As we meet her, she is divorcing her husband and is losing her apartment in Paris. Somehow, in a complex ensnarement involving Val, another young new, ruthless ingenue and just as self-involved director, Maria ends up as an afterthought, dismissed after the 3rd act, in a play that years before had established her fame. Maria is so far gone, by the end of the film, that when a true admirer approaches her, she recommends the new ingenue who replaced her in her old role for the part- Maria now sees herself as "too old." In the film's touching denouement, her admirer rejects the "tabloid fame seeking" ingenue. He sees Maria, for whom he wrote the new film part, as "beyond time." Thus, Maria's art survives her so-called compromised aging beauty, and she is validated at the most basic level as the artist she is. Binoche plays Maria with a look of angry confusion, almost childish petulance, at her unexpected, seemingly uncontrollable fall from grace. Underlying this seeming helplessness, however, you can see in her an honesty, a vulnerability, and a focus on acting as an act of integrity that makes her stand out among the other characters, whose motives may not be transparent, but are clearly not based in any higher ideals related to art or in being in the service of art. It is easy to understand why Maria is (or was) such a huge star, and also, how in her relatively innocent focus on the value of art for it's own sake, she could fall into the trap of losing her own sense of her own value by the manipulative, ego-driven, social-media twisting characters around her. Val, played by Kristen Stewart, ensnares Maria like a spider playing with a fly. Their chemistry is palpable. Stewart won the equivalent of the French Oscar for this film, and it is well-deserved. This film, with all of the subtle nuances, is not for everyone. I love the rare films, like this one, that treat the audience as thinking adults, capable of understanding multi-faceted, complex relationships and character.

Milan Clouds of Sils Maria is probably the best film of 2014. Insightful character study into the artistic and life defining moments in the life of great dramatic actress, featuring a career-defining performance by Juliette Binoche (one of her many), Sils Maria is meditation on power, desire, loyalty and the passing of time. Binoche and Moretz play actresses who are nothing like themselves: Moretz's Jo-Ann is talented, but a wild-child darling of the tabloids, while Binoche's Maria is frightened of aging and haunted by ghosts of her past.Another area in which the film really excels is in its gorgeous landscape cinematography, courtesy of cinematographer Yorick Le Saux. The clouds of the English title (the original French title is superior, just Sils Maria) refer to the 'Maloja snake', a cloud formation that winds its way through the mountains of Sils Maria, which is beautifully captured on-screen in an inspired re-creation of a film shown within this film, Arnold Fanck's 1924 short Cloud Phenomena of Maloja.In many ways, "Clouds of Sils Maria" is very similar to the mountain path that Maria and Valentine hike one morning, hoping to catch a peek at the ominous snaking clouds. It's winding, not all that clearly marked, and it sure takes time and patience, but by the end, you're left with quite a view.

Hellmant 'CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA': Four Stars (Out of Five)Critically acclaimed drama flick; about a middle-aged movie star, that's asked to costar in a revival of the play that made her famous (20 years earlier). The film stars Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart and Chloe Grace Moretz. All three actresses received rave reviews for their performances; with Stewart becoming the first American actress to ever win a Cesar Award (for Best Supporting Actress). The movie was written and directed by Olivier Assayas. I enjoyed the great performances, and the film's clever dialogue.Maria Enders (Binoche) is an international movie star, and veteran stage actress, that's been popular for 2 decades now. She's asked to costar in a revival of the play 'Maloja Snake'; which made her famous 20 years earlier. This time she's asked to play an older role though; of two female leading characters, in a lesbian love story of betrayal. Maria reluctantly takes the part, and struggles with it deeply. She rehearses the role, with her assistant Valentine (Stewart); whom she also has feelings for. The movie is a pretty insightful look at stardom (in the film and play world). It's an especially interesting look at what it's like to be an aging star; watching someone younger, replace you (in many ways). The performances are all great, and the dialogue always kept me interested. It's a little long, at 2 hours, but it never feels too slow-paced. If you're interested in film, you should probably enjoy it.Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: https://youtu.be/EuKmXpjFt-k