FilmVomit

I was not expecting much from this film, I will admit that. I have a fondness for Dave Eggers but not a love, and the material seemed like a stretch for Sam Mendes- too upbeat hipster lovestory, to be perfectly honest. My low expectations, as usual, led me to greater enjoyment. The direction is, mostly, spot on. The film is warm and funny and honest. It doesn’t feel like film that will stick with you, like most of Mendes’ other works do. But it doesn’t really have to.
Part of the films effectiveness comes from the fact that Mendes, who works very closely with his cinematographers, seems to have left his comfort zone. His first to films were shot by the inimitable Conrad Hall, the second two by Roger Deakins. This film was shot by the impossibly hip Ellen Kuras. Conrad Hall was the fire behind such films as Cool Hand Luke and In Cold Blood. He made a safe choice going to Deakins, who imitates Hall quite well. Kuras, however, worked on Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Be Kind, Rewind, among other icons of the current film generation. And her sensibilities seem to have brought the joy out in Mr. Mendes. The shots are bare, in many cases, stripped of sentiment. They may lack the sheer aesthetic weight of something like American Beauty, but they make up for it in an almost effervescent honesty. I will sincerely look forward to seeing how their relationship progresses.
There isn’t so much depth here as one might like to see. Or perhaps I should look closer. But at the very least there is joy, and there is beauty. And that is enough.