| Overall Grade: |
A |
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| Story: |
B- |
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| Acting: |
A+ |
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| Direction: |
A- |
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|
| Visuals: |
A |
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Actors make the movie.
by R (movies profile)
Jan 9, 2004
1
of
1 people found this review helpful
I love this movie. What it lacks in story it more than makes up for in acting and dialogue. The interaction between all the characters, and character development, is what I find most interesting about this film. From the beginning you get a peek into the timid boy in John finally being truly brave by buying a Russian mail-order bride, Nadya (Kiman) which results in a sick, restrained (at times literally) and loving relationship, all at the same time. It turns the movie into a very very dark sex comedy/love story that won't let you look away from the screen... or maybe that's Kidman's always ever-so enchanting screen presence.
The acting has an immense role in causing Birthday Girl to be such a great movie. Though Chaplin is not the strongest actor in the movie, he does add a boyish innocence to almost every scene. Kassovitz and Cassel do a fabulous job and do wonderfully with their Russian (they are really French actors) But, of course, Kidman is the one who really makes the movie. Her beauty and perfect sensuality carry the would-be mediocre movie to new heights. You have to love her.
While Birthday Girl is not the "edge of your seat thriller" that some critics seem to think it is, and it is certainly not a movie for everyone, if you love a sexy and interesting movie you will definitely appreciate Birthday Girl. |
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