paul2001sw-1 Olivier Assays makes talky films about affluent people; but typically, they're thoughtful and interesting. 'The Clouds of Sils Maria' is, I believe, his first movie in English; and focuses on an actress, played by Juliette Binoche. She's about to revisit the play that made her name, but in a different, older role: this brings into light her own ambiguous feelings about ageing (and about the way that society views an older woman); there are also parallels between the themes of the play and her own real-life relationship with her assistant. It's very urbane, but one's sympathy for Binoche's character is limited by the fact that she is so damn spoiled - she's not especially diva-esque, but she nonetheless is surrounded at all times by a (small) entourage, though often they have their own motivations for "helping". One can wonder if her state of disquiet isn't just the by-product of being considered unusually important by others, a manufactured crisis in a pedicured life. Overall, I liked the film, though it lacks the emotional connection of Assayas's best.

Taxonomist To begin, this film is pretentious twaddle. Full of the kind of cultural self-congratulation that has disfigured so many weightless French films in recent years. Ten lines of text for a review of this bland and boring dog's breakfast? Not worth your time or mine to continue. But, according to IMDb's guidelines, I must go on. The director's attempts to set up little mysteries here and there with hanging plot-lines are ineffective to dispel the film's stifling air of inconsequentiality. He also trots out a number of special effects, with the occasional aim, I suppose, of showing a character's mental or emotional state. It is all rather pointless. This swamps whatever gifts of characterization the actresses try to bring to their roles. (The actors, by the way, rarely rise above the level of the so-so, and are soon forgotten.) But don't take my word for all this: go to Richard Brody's review in the New Yorker issue of April 16, 2015. There he lays out, for all to read, the film's many mediocrities.

Reno Rangan This is about a middle aged actress who spends in the Swiss Alps with her personal assistant while preparing for the upcoming project. During that time, she receives a news that the author of the book which was adapted for the screen 20 years ago where she play a main role and now in its remake, she's doing another part, while a young sensation playing the main part. This is more like the evolution of cinema. The 20 years is too soon for her, while the cinema and its trend advanced rapidly. Precisely to say, the commercial films and young actors taking over the art films and true artists' places respectively.If you at least 30 years old, you would get this film more than others. Because while I was growing up in the 90s, the cinema was so different. I'm not talking about the technology like computer graphics, but the story and how it was narrated for the screen. Now the science- fiction and dystopian themes taking over with the young audience and social media support. I think it was a quite meaningful film, particularly if you adore films like the recent evolution in cinema was so faster than ever.The negatives were, the film was too long, slow pace and too simple drama. The positives were, the actors and their performances, the locations, theme and some of the dialogues. Directed by a French filmmaker, this is an international project with a few guest appearances. Most of the film was set in the Alps. Totally different than what I was anticipating, but I still like, except in a few parts where I got bored for its weak development. So this is for the selected audience, that mean it will be appreciated by a very few and I'm kind of neutral with mostly in its favour.6/10

Hellmant 'CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA': Four Stars (Out of Five)Critically acclaimed drama flick; about a middle-aged movie star, that's asked to costar in a revival of the play that made her famous (20 years earlier). The film stars Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart and Chloe Grace Moretz. All three actresses received rave reviews for their performances; with Stewart becoming the first American actress to ever win a Cesar Award (for Best Supporting Actress). The movie was written and directed by Olivier Assayas. I enjoyed the great performances, and the film's clever dialogue.Maria Enders (Binoche) is an international movie star, and veteran stage actress, that's been popular for 2 decades now. She's asked to costar in a revival of the play 'Maloja Snake'; which made her famous 20 years earlier. This time she's asked to play an older role though; of two female leading characters, in a lesbian love story of betrayal. Maria reluctantly takes the part, and struggles with it deeply. She rehearses the role, with her assistant Valentine (Stewart); whom she also has feelings for. The movie is a pretty insightful look at stardom (in the film and play world). It's an especially interesting look at what it's like to be an aging star; watching someone younger, replace you (in many ways). The performances are all great, and the dialogue always kept me interested. It's a little long, at 2 hours, but it never feels too slow-paced. If you're interested in film, you should probably enjoy it.Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: https://youtu.be/EuKmXpjFt-k