{"id":7114,"date":"2014-07-25T01:34:32","date_gmt":"2014-07-25T08:34:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/?p=7114"},"modified":"2014-07-25T01:34:32","modified_gmt":"2014-07-25T08:34:32","slug":"mood-indigo-is-a-whimsical-tragedy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinemastance.com\/?p=7114","title":{"rendered":"MOOD INDIGO is a Whimsical Tragedy?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Mood Indigo\u00a0<\/i>playing an exclusive engagement in San Diego at the Ken Cinema. Details HERE\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Michel Gondry\u2019s filmmaking has developed two distinct trajectories. Unfortunately these two paths are mutually exclusive and growing farther and farther apart as time passes. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

First, his visual storytelling work is that of a genius. And I\u2019m not using that world lightly. Pure genius- imaginative and unique, there is virtually no one working at the level of Gondry.\u00a0 Whimsical perfection that captures the stuff of dreams. His new film Mood \u00a0Indigo<\/em> takes his chaotic aesthetics to a new level\u00a0 and fans of his brand of art will not be disappointed regarding the look of the film . This is the first film where he operates solely in his imagination and never lets up. It\u2019s The Science of Sleep <\/em>consisting of only dream sequences.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Secondly though, Gondry seems stuck on the \u201cBoy Meets Girl\u201d story and there isn\u2019t much more for him to say. Mood Indigo <\/em>has too many connecting parts to The Science of Sleep <\/em>which (to be honest) was a slighter version of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind <\/em>that suffered from the absence of writer Charlie Kaufman. On the positive side I believe it\u2019s safe to say that Gondry is a romantic without hope but his narrative storytelling is suffering and at odds with that he is able to convey with a camera and his mind.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I realize that Gondry remains an eclectic filmmaker, taking time to produce documentaries and experimental films like The We and the I <\/em>which was made using nothing but inner-city, amateur actors. But I feel like these romantic dream movies are Gondry\u2019s signature pieces and represent him best as an artist\/auteur. And they have become repetitive.<\/strong><\/p>\n

What Gondry does different with Mood Indigo <\/em>is mix the\u00a0whimsy with tragedy and the results are off putting. As the title would indicate, the mood is blue; deep blue and once the conflict introduces its self to the lovely lives of Chlo\u00e9 (Audrey Tautou) and Colin (Romain Duris) the film falls into a funk. As tone of the film is so light and carefree, the serious material is met with a grin by the cast and never invested. This makes it hard to feel <\/em>the movie that is at odds with itself.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gondry comes from music video and he is arguably one of the best that has worked in the medium. What his movies keep hinting towards is that he is better in spurts and starts. The feature film makes him stretch a little too much. While his films are always interesting and worth a look, he needs to venture outside of himself for help regarding the narrative. Other than that, we regretfully are looking at a one-trick pony that has a huge bag full of tricks.<\/strong><\/p>\n

One a positive note here is one of my favorite Gondry videos:<\/strong>
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