Acensbart Excellent but underrated film
Intcatinfo A Masterpiece!
Odelecol Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.
Lachlan Coulson This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.
qbert455 I just got after seeing this film at the European Film Festival in Vancouver, and I have to say, I was very disappointed with this film. I had no idea what it was about going in, and it was such a waste of a night. Sure, it was beautiful to look at, but it was pointless. Little nuggets of info are dropped, only to never be touched on again. The tone was all over the place, and I was bored stiff. At some points, I thought that the filmmakers were going for a sense of dread, only to have nothing come of it. And the big plot point in the film is absolutely retarded, as it's basically thrown out the window at the end, by the sudden appearance of a character. All in all, DO NOT waste your money.
kmserlin Saw this at the Mill Valley Film Festival. The actor who plays the main character, Joseph, is a grandson of Charlie Chaplin and there is a significant resemblance both in face (Chaplin was a very handsome man without the Little Tramp makeup) and acrobatic grace.Much of the film takes place in an early 20th century European circus. The story was inspired by a Kafka story about a circus performer who refuses to leave his trapeze (in the story, you never learn why).The film is beautifully photographed and has many exquisite effects, but the melodramatic plot and lame dialog resulted in many unintended laughs as far as I was concerned (but nearby audience members were eating it up, so different strokes for different folks). Jodhi May badly cast as gypsy with a heart of gold. Director Savary spoke at film fest and said he believes in as little dialog as possible; to that end, he didn't bother to subtitle several sequences in which characters spoke French or English. That's okay, what dialog there is was pretty bad. I'd say this director is all eye, no ear. Derek Jacobi chews the scenery (he's supposed to, character-wise, but it's a badly written character).
leg521 Dark, compelling, "Bye Bye Blackbird" tells the story of a circus family and the tragedies that impact their lives. You leave the film wondering what was real and what was a dream. The photography was beautiful and surreal. I cared about these characters and when people make decisions for others. The outcomes can be overwhelming and sad.As a huge Jodhi May fan, her performance was fantastic and the rest of the cast was remarkable. She looks very different and she continues to prove herself as a character actress.I saw it at a film festival in CA and the director appeared to answer questions about the production.If you get a chance to see it, I highly recommend this movie.
appianterrapts The first portion of this film is gorgeous and mysterious and mesmerizing. Then it just degenerates into strange soliloquies and depression. It even adds a bit of depravity thrown in for good measure. It's as if the writer was trying to say something profound. But he really doesn't. It's a confusing mess at the end. The pacing, editing, design, and even the acting are so wonderful in the first part of the film. Unfortunately, most of these elements become tiresome by the end. Such a shame because the first 3/5th of the film is really amazing. Wish they'd taken more time to flesh out the ending.I'd still recommend seeing it though. This director should have a bright future. I would watch it again myself.
