fête à fête

Wong Kar Wai is one of my favorite directors, and with good reason. The visionary is a regular on the Cannes circuit, and his "In the Mood for Love" has set a new standard in international cinema. He has an inimitable gift of letting each frame ooze with glamorous sensuality. It's a luxe quality that isn't found in many films today, and I can't get enough of it.

Shifting his focus to a Western landscape, he returns with "My Blueberry Nights." It's a debut for Wong in many ways. It's his first English language feature, and the lead actress (singer Norah Jones) is a fresh visage on the silver screen. It's also one of the rare instances that Christopher Doyle isn't present for this project, welcoming instead cinematographer Darius Khondji. The result is a beautifully tailored dance of color, light, music, and passion that lingers within you long after you leave the theatre.

The story opens up with Elizabeth (Jones), a heartbroken young woman drowning in the sorrows of her recent breakup. She befriends cafe owner Jeremy (Jude Law), eating blueberry pie and taking refuge in his romantic outlook. With the pain so close to home, she takes off on a long journey across America, trying to forget her past.

Along the way she witnesses other troubled souls battling their own relationship demons. In Memphis she gets caught up with a forlorn alcoholic cop (David Strathairn) and his hot-headed estranged wife (Rachel Weisz), then ends up with a flirty, fast-talkin', double-your-money-back-or-bust gambler (Natalie Portman) in Nevada. These characters are somewhat of a mirror image to her loneliness within her long inner journey.

For a first timer, Jones is valiant in her attempt to convey her emotional range, but it comes off a bit awkward. Portman's spunky performance provided the sizzle the film needed, and it's a darn shame she didn't have more screen time.

The soundtrack, as usual, is a work of art in itself with Wong at the helm. His extremely deliberate choice in music heightens the entire experience, and sometimes the tracks themselves do enough emoting for everyone and beyond. With Ry Cooder (Buena Vista Social Club) scoring, you get to cozy up to sultry croons from Norah Jones, Cat Power, Otis Redding, and the like. For "In the Mood for Love" fans, you will find a treat here - a harmonica version of "Yumeji's Theme."

www.weinsteinco.com

-Tami