Darius Khondji on cinematography so of course it looks amazing; I'm sure its palette is actually much wider than this, but the impression I've retained of its version of early 1920s New York is all browny-russet shadows, tinged with gold - though not romanticised, except to the extent that it seeks, I think, to render that time and place with a precise specificity. Marion Cotillard's good (she always is) as the titular Polish immigrant, and Joaquin Phoenix and Jeremy Renner are also effective though maybe a touch more showily; the film commits to dramatic truth through the straight road of character and actions and so there's the ever present risk of boring-ness, a prospect that it narrowly avoids but avoids nonetheless.
(w/ Daniel L and David)
(w/ Daniel L and David)
