The Agency's Posts

Online dating secrets, as revealed by math majors: Ladies, it's OK to show a little cleavage. Guys, flexing muscles may not hurt, if you're still....
Read More>

Movie review: 'Hugo': A slapstick element mars Martin Scorsese's 3-D adaptation of Brian Selznick's children's novel 'Th
Read More>

Readers to NBC: Quit Killing Our Shows: After writing a piece in defense of “Prime Suspect,” which NBC recently pulled....
Read More>

Album review: Adele's 'Live at the Royal Albert Hall': The release date for Adele’s “Live at the Royal Albert Hall” CD (which also....
Read More>

Christian Bale: 'Dark Knight Rises' is the end of his Batman era: Christian Bale may be retiring his Batmobile: The actor says he's done with "that Batman....
Read More>

'The Artist,' 'Marilyn' have old-school charm at box office: Old Hollywood was back in fashion this weekend as "The Artist" and "My Week....
Read More>

Seven Little Known Tips for Getting in Shape: For an unathletic, self-professed geek, I’ve made a fair amount of improvements in my....
Read More>

Retailers See a Split in Behavior of Shoppers: AtWal-Mart, shoppers cut back on staples like milk and meat that had price increases of a few....
Read More>

'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' takes on Facebook with National Unfriend Day: Jimmy Kimmel uses his show to urge people to 'whittle' their Facebook friends lists by promoting....
Read More>

Word of Mouth: Three films vie for family audience: The Muppets,' 'Hugo' and 'Arthur Christmas' are coming out next week, so studios are targeting....
Read More>

The Rolling Stones' ageless rock: The band celebrates 50 years together next year. Next week, the group rereleases 'Some Girls'....
Read More>
'Delicacy' Review
Posted on: 03/21/12
Share/Save/Bookmark
 Audrey Tautou is her usual charming self in this story of a woman who must reinvent her life.

 

François and Nathalie, the young French couple inDelicacy, are delirious with love. They go separately to a cafe and pretend not to know each other, then kiss breathlessly on the curb outside. He proposes by putting his key ring around her finger (poverty is adorable!) They invite their parents over for a lunch that lasts too long and then tell them they want to make a baby just so they can be alone. They are so gorgeous and so breathtakingly happy that you know something bad is in store, because it’s the only plot development available in the face of such joy.

That bad development is pretty terrible, and it leaves Nathalie (Audrey Tautou of Amélieand The Da Vinci Code) a widow. Delicacy is mostly about what happens to her three years later, after the initial outpouring of loss and grief. She has survived with the support of her family and friends and by throwing herself into a job so poorly defined that I can’t even tell you what she does except that it involves “cases” and that she is employed by a Swedish company in Paris. Law? Social work? Something involving IKEA? Hard to say.

Her creepy married boss — a walking sexual harassment lawsuit if he worked in the United States — tries to hit on her, and she’s repulsed. But she finds herself drawn to nice but slightly dorky Swedish colleague Markus (François Damiens) and begins to make strides toward moving on.

Delicacy bears a slight whiff of Anthony Minghella’s fantastic Truly Madly Deeply, but while Minghella’s film is a romantic comedy classic, Delicacy hovers just this side of memorable. The movie has plenty going for it, including the charming Tautou; the likable Damiens, who makes you understand what Nathalie sees in this balding, unprepossessing guy; and a whimsical and deeply peculiar sense of humor. There are one or two excellent visual gags and a quick Stieg Larsson joke that will make you laugh aloud; in adapting his novel, screenwriter and co-director David Foenkinos hones in hilariously on the casual snobbery of the French. Upon hearing that Nathalie may be dating Markus, her boss sputters in fury; how could she spurn him for someone who dresses like that?

But there’s something missing here, maybe in the vagueness about Nathalie’s work or in her unlikely behavior when she meets Markus that feels utterly false (he comes to her office with a question, and she plants a big smooch on him with no warning; what is going on at this place of business?). There are scattered pockets of tedium that plague the movie, like the scene in which she finally introduces Markus to her friends and he reacts badly, which feels like a standard romantic roadblock. Delicacy ends on a wonderful bittersweet note, but getting there isn’t as effortless as you might want it to be.

Cast: Audrey Tautou, Francois Damiens, Bruno Todeschini.

Directors: David Foenkinos, Stephane Foenkinos.

Screenwriter: David Foenkinos.

Producers: Xavier Rigault, Marc-Antoine Robert.

 
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to post a comment!


Post A Comment:




  • It's 2020! Start booking roles in commercials, fashion, films, theater and more with The Agency Online!

  • NEW WORKSHOP with Barbara Barna & Sean De Simone!

    Hi Everyone and Happy Summer! Sean at Sean De Simone casting and Barbara Barna are teaming up for a super informative and fun Hosting for Home Shopping workshop. A great opportunity for established or experienced TV Hosts and Experts interested in learning how to get noticed and how to get in....
  • MASTERCLASS W. Robin Carus & David John Madore

    A Special Offer for the Agency Community, from one of our favorite NYC Casting Directors! EMAIL FacetheMusicWithUs@gmail.com Or Eventbrite To Sign Up! Class Size is Limited.
  • Don't Fall Into The Comparison Trap

    Hi Everyone! As the second installment in an ongoing series of features by the Agency's amazing community, here's some sage advice from our own Regina Rockensies; a humble (& awesome)veteran we've had the pleasure of working with for a long time. Have an excellent week! : ) - The Agency....
  • One Model's Agreement

    Hi Everyone! As the first piece in an ongoing series of original articles by the Agency community, here's a short reflection on some of the values of professional acting & modeling that we can all keep in mind for our next casting. Good luck on your castings &shoots this week! : ) -....




 
home       castings&news       privacy policy       terms and conditions      contact us      browser tips
Official PayPal Seal