Monday, November 12, 2012

Rust and Bone (2012)

Rust and Bone
Directed by Jacques Audiard
Starring: Marion Cotillard, Matthias Schoenaerts, Corinne Masiero
Grade: B [69] 

For a film about drawing strength from physical adversity, “Rust and Bone” isn’t half as uplifting a time as its slushy, aquatic trailer would have you believe. It’s rare that a romance comes along so eager to purge its characters of traditional forms of grace, and still express the rich, interdependent courage that exists between them. The imposing performances of Cotillard and Schoenaerts punctuate Audiard’s themes well, and the coarseness of their romance lends something uniquely powerful to the experience. It’s somewhat soured when some heavy-handed plotting sweeps in to enforce an epiphany in the final act, but the effect is more dispiriting than ruinous. When even Katy Perry’s “Firework” is utilised to profoundly moving effect, you have to figure that this is a somewhat successful exercise in spinning straw into gold.

3 comments:

Candice Frederick said...

i was really underwhelmed by this, even though the performances are good. i didn't like the direction of the relationship. the woman really seemed to succumb to a lot of mistakes.

Calum Reed said...

It's a tough relationship to watch, but that's kind of why I like it. She clearly wouldn't be interested in him if she didn't have this physical insecurity, which makes her more conceited, really. He's just selfish and non-committal the whole way through.

What can I say? It worked for me :)

Paolo said...

Speaking of their romance, I love the balance between how equally good AND toxically codependent Scoenaerts/Cotillard were for each other.