Thanks for the memories!

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

Don't Believe the Hype

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

The ImmigrantEven though the script isn't as convoluted as the writers think, they wisely installed plenty of extra room for other sub-plots to factor in, which was smart of them to play safe, and that can be the accurate description of the feature in a word; safe. It is rich on technical aspects like cinematography, costume design, make-up design, art design and editing. The script focuses more on its three dimensional pragmatic characters that are unpredictable, dark and brutally honest that helps the feature to draw out the attention of the viewers. James Gray; the writer-director, has done a tremendous work on executing this character driven feature and pushes its boundary on the script by visiting unexpected places that helps on keeping the audience on the edge of the seat. It is no short on performance for obvious reasons, like Marion Cotillard and Joaquin Phoenix and Jeremy Renner as a supporting actor. The chemistry among the actors doesn't communicate to the viewers despite of offering a wider range for them to factor in, which is the only downer in here as the emotions comes out a bit shallow. The Immigrant migrates involuntarily and suffers for art where its gripping screenplay is what keeps the feature alive despite of having stellar performance.

Separated from her ill sister and facing deportation, a Polish immigrant is taken in by a burlesque show operator who may or may not have her best intentions at heart in this drama set in 1920s New York. The film holds no bars in depicting the difficulties of immigration as our disillusioned protagonist, played by Marion Cotillard, comes to accept an existence very different to what she once imagined. Cotillard's performance is rather multi-layered: simultaneously vulnerable and ruthless (resorting to stealing what she can), and simultaneously accepting of her fate and focused on achieving more. Joaquin Phoenix is also superb as the burlesque man with a breakdown scene near the end in which he finally drops all pretenses to reveal a beating human heart. Their situation is also complicated by Cotillard encountering Phoenix's estranged cousin, played by Jeremy Renner, and a love triangle develops that never quite clicks since we are unsure until the end whether Phoenix really loves her, and as it is never clear whether Renner really loves her either or just wants to make Phoenix jealous. Certainly, an animosity exists between the two cousins that the film does not explore in as much depth as it perhaps could have. Still, what the film does do well it does very, very well. It is quite rare to find a film with such a graphic insight into the harsh actual reality of the American Dream and Cotillard's character is very much one-of-a-kind. Torn between would-be saviours and false promises, she never once gives up hope, even if her own American Dream is decidedly different by the end.

Don't boil the movie down to one person/performance. Although if you do, you should be able to acknowledge the weight they are pulling here. The pacing might not be your thing, but the way the characters are portrayed is really great. There is a lot of gray areas to be dealt with here. Talk about more than 3 shades of it then ... Which not every movie can claim by the way! Just saying.You have to really dig the pace or you won't like the movie. It's a really hard story to follow, not because it's too fast, but because it's slow and might feel unnerving for some. But real life would be even more dragging than that. I like how the movie works and how they played certain things out. Sacrifices have to be made, to reach ones goal ... but what is the price to pay?

A film that looks more lavish and feels more epic than its minimalistic budget constraints should've allowed, James Gray's finely crafted and at times movingly harsh 1920's set period drama The Immigrant is a well-made and intentioned piece of filmmaking yet there is little denying that the film lacks a certain something that would've made it really fly and become something more than what it is upon conclusion.James Gray is a solid filmmaker; you would argue that he is yet to make a truly bad film and his directional skills of the Immigrant showcase once more that he is an accomplished artist. The combination of musical score, well framed shots by DOP Darius Khondji and a well-crafted production design combine to make The Immigrant live and breathe 1920's and the film feels alive because of it. You get the feeling that if Gray had acquired more financing the film could've become a well spectacle that would've gone hand in hand with the human drama and created something really quite special. It's where Gray arguably shines the most, in his human storytelling and like his films We Own the Night and The Yards, Gray and his well acquitted cast have some great moments in this undeniably bleak story.Once more teaming up with Joaquin Phoenix Gray's film really does belong to Marion Cotillard. Cotillard's Ewa is a determined, likable and above all else decent human being caught up in a whirlwind of unfortunate circumstances and her journey to America to find a better life and her travails once there is a believable and often heartbreaking tale. It's another expertly acted turn by Cotillard and she finds herself out acting the always good Joaquin Phoenix and poor old Jeremy Renner who is left a little in the dust of these two in the somewhat shoddy role of magician Emil. With the appearance of Emil The Immigrant faces it's toughest hurdle as a love triangle of sorts builds, the film struggles to maintain it's down to earth believable vibe and a few too many narrative stumbles really hurt the films progression despite a nicely staged and effecting finale.Watchable and often powerful, The Immigrant is a very solid drama that gets bogged down in some questionable narrative arcs and an at times undeniable lack of funds/crew to make the film take off to what it so easily could've been. Some great turns by Cotillard and Phoenix are the main reasons to check this tale out and for die-hard fans of Gray, it's another great example of a director who looks likely to develop a true classic at any given moment.3 and a half lucky scarves out of 5 For more movie reviews and opinions check into - www.jordanandeddie.wordpress.com