Right off the bat let me say about "My Blueberry Nights" that the acting is superb--too bad it won't be seen by enough people.



I don't remember the last good movie Jude Law was in or that he was good in. For awhile he seemed to be spreading his talent too thin appearing in what was every other movie being shown. Then it was remakes of Michael Caine movies like Alfie and Sleuth.

Natalie Portman's career started off with a bang giving good performances in good movies then it was good performances in bad movies and her last couple of movies were bad performances in bad movies. She brings a jolt to the movie just when it is needed. Her look was completely different than it had been in the past and it was smashing though it took me awhile to recognize her!

Both come back strong in this movie. Jude looks relaxed and gives off the impish charm that always works, and succeeds with bringing the audience into the film and his character.

Both David Strathairn and Rachel Weisz's performances, aa a couple whose marriage is over, is right on the mark.. He is an alcoholic and she sleeps around. They both deliver individually and as a couple.

Norah Jones, in her first on screen acting job, is a little too passive but she doesn't appear to be 'acting'. Her last few scenes with Portman really come across.

Now to the movie itself. There is so much wrong with this 'road' movie. You know you are in Memphis because you are told you are in Memphis just as you know you are in Las Vegas by highway signs and the hotels scream Las Vegas.

The soundtrack is redundant. Does a bar have only record or is it the only one played constantly?

The cinematography has an impact the first time you see a bright, neon subway racing above the city but by the 6th time it is just boring. Most of the night scenes, including all in the cafe that Jude owns, looks like it was filmed in neon.

Wong Kar-wai directed, wrote and produced the movie and it was if it was his firs time doing any of the three and trying to show off and failing in the writing department. It was as if the plot was the least important part of the film. I don't know how much his direction influenced the actors but he (or they) brought out the best in them.

The film is 90 minutes and I understand it was cut 20-25 minutes from its first showing at Cannes which was a smart move as how many subway cars flashing by can you stand? How many ways can you show ice cream melting on blueberry pie? And how many highway shots can appear in a film before they all look alike?

I was so taken with the performances of Portman and Law I do wish there had been more back story on their characters.

If you want to see good looking/pretty actors doing a good job of acting this is a movie worth seeing and it is certainly worth seeing for the performances of Natalie Portman and Jude Law!!