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Jet Lag and food in movies
Still catching on on movies, I have watched Jet Lag with Juliette Binoche and Jean Reno. Binoche is a favorite and I have pledged to see all of her films. This Jet Lag does not do her or Reno justice. In fact, despite the dull dialogues, the two characters manage to come to life solely on the talent of the two leads. The comparison with Before Sunrise that I have read in several reviews is not a fair one. This American wannabe romantic comedy is a light one, Before Sunrise is more European than many European movies, such as this one. On the other hand, having seen Before Sunrise some time ago, I can't really remember the lead actress anymore and I'm willing to bet that I will remember Rose / Binoche long after I have forgotten all about the plot of Jet Lag.
Another regret is the treatment of food in Jet Lag. Everyone knows food can be intensely sensual, vivid, colorful. Despite the fact that Jean Reno plays a "food related character", the film totally disregards this aspect. We hear about all these delicacies on cell phone conversations but we never see them. During the two meals Felix and Rose share, the camera remains so distant that we are just left muttering "please give me the food!" Who can forget that passionate bloody scene when Carmen Maura chops tomatoes to make a gaspacho in the genial Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown by Almodovar? Isn't Penelope Cruz's best the suculent Woman on Top? What a great chance lost in Jet Lag, the gourmet chef is treated like a bell boy. Simirlarly, Rose's job, filled with possibilities, is disregarded and only the clown like aspect of the initial Rose is used from her job as a beautician masseuse. And a good one too.
Oh well, plenty of other Binoche films to choose from:
2004 In My Country
Character played: Anna Malan
2005 Bee Season
2002 Jet Lag
Character played: Rose
2000 Chocolat
Character played: Vianne Rocher
2000 Code Inconnu: Recit Incomplet De Divers Voyages
Character played: Anne
2000 The Widow of Saint-Pierre
Character played: Madame La
1999 Les enfants du siècle
Character played: George Sand
1998 Alice et Martin
Character played: Alice
1996 The English Patient
Character played: Hana
1996 A Couch In New York
Character played: Beatrice Saulnier
1995 The Horseman on the Roof
Character played: Pauline
1994 Trois Couleurs: Blanc
Buy it on DVD
1994 Trois Couleurs: Rouge
Character played: Cameo
1993 Trois Couleurs: Bleu
Character played: Julie
1992 Wuthering Heights
Characters played: Cathy/Catherine, Catherine Earnshaw
1992 Damage
Character played: Anna Barton
1991 Women and Men: In Love There are No Rules
Character played: Mara
1991 Lovers on the Bridge
Character played: Michele
1988 The Unbearable Lightness of Being
Character played: Tereza
1988 Un Tour De Manege
Character played: Elsa
1986 Mauvais Sang
Character played: Anna
1986 Mon Beau-Frere A Tue Ma Soeur
Character played: Esther
1985 Hail Mary
Character played: Juliette
1985 Rendez-Vous
Character played: Nina
1985 La Vie De Famille
Character played: Natacha
1985 Les Nanas
1985 Adieu Blaireau