Sadly Over-hyped

A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

Beautifully shot, I admit partly too superficial in some parts, but other parts are really well done - some really great constructed scenes to capture that moment in the story.I did forward bits of this film because it did drag in a few places - I think this would be perfect and easily told as a short film instead of a feature - there's not enough content to the story, many scenes not really needed to tell it, hence it felt very slow and hard to follow (unless you're quite happy to be distracted without any concentration during those times).Again, there were a few moments of really great acting for part of the story as with the plot, others again maybe a bit too self-indulgent dramatics maybe thought of as good to show for 'complex' character, but can come across as superficial and OTT in how emotions were shown.You can tell there's a lot of effort gone in to a great 'look'ing film (scene shots, costume etc.), but it's not enough to compensate the overall content used to tell what could be a much shorter story.

1 star just because Brad can act. Watching Angelina is like nails on a chalkboard... she pouts and poses... changes her outfits and puts on a lot of makeup. That pretty much sums it up! Hubby and I have been laughing throughout it and making snarky comments. I'd feel pretty bad it, except I'm irked I'm still up trying to ride this snail out to the end. Do we ever find out why she's so depressed? Do we even care? Ridiculous! Can she please slink back into the bathtub with all her makeup on, so Brad can just drown her already?!!! Just kidding... sort of. We have no idea how this movie scored anything above a single star. Oh wait, Brad can actually act!

1. Should have been 20-30, even 45 minutes long. For what it was it would have been a great short film. Painful 2 hours.2. WAY too much smoking and drinking. EVERY SCENE has one or both! Sickening and pathetic.3. Angelina is a good director, and would have had a much better fare with shortening 90 minutes from the movie.4. French scenes have no subtitles. WHY?5. The end. WHY would Angelina, being who she is in real life, ever write the ending like that? It leaves a bad taste in your mouth. The ending "reason" for the troubles would make more sense if it JUST happened recently, NOT 3 years prior. That was unbelievable. It seems that the message is the solution to the couple's strife is to be miserable and terrible, when Angelina and Brad in real life have DONE the solution to the film couple's problem! She wrote the opposite message you would expect her to write concerning family. It's like someone else entirely, with a seething, ignorant bitterness, came up with the story. Somewhat recommend for a look into a couple's troubles and French/Malta/Meddeteranian scenery, as they are presented competently, but all the other stuff in between sours it from being a great film.

I really tried to give this film a chance, even though I have seen very few positive reviews. Unfortunately, lovely Southern French scenery, stylish 70s ambiance, and two famous megastars couldn't save this plodding, microscopic examination of two of the most boring characters ever created. I simply did not care if the characters in this film lived or died. The only interesting and honest performance is delivered by Niels Arestrup as Michele, the sympathetic bar owner in whom Pitt's character confides while he drowns in drunken self-pity. Angelina Jolie is so bland and expressionless, and Brad Pitt looks like he'd rather be anywhere else except in this film. I've never thought of him or Jolie as particularly strong actors, but when given a passable script, each can usually deliver a reasonable performance Not here, unfortunately. All I can think is this film was just a narcissistic Jolie "vanity project." Seriously, I have seen better films from juniors and seniors in film school. It's galling to think you just need money to produce a film, not real talent.