One of the biggest film festivals in the world, and one of the most important in regards to Oscar predictions/indicators, has been underway for a few days now, and along with previously premiered films like Black Swan, The King's Speech, and 127 Hours are previously unreviewed films like Rabbit Hole (I'm reaaaaaally hoping for good reception on this one) and the subject of this post, Little White Lies.
"Lies," which has been on my radar for a while now mostly because it stars Marion Cotillard and is directed by her boyfried (fiance?) Guillaume Canet, even though there hasn't been too much available out it yet. That should change very quickly, and the first reviews from the TIFF screening are finally making their way online. Michael Rechtshaffen of The Hollywood Reporter is generally positive in his assessment of the ensemble dramedy, though he says the film is hampered and "loses much of its effervescence as it goes on - and on." Rechtshaffen praises the performances, especially those of Cotillard and co-star Fracois Cluzet, both of whose work is described as "bright and energetic."
Variety's Jordan Mintzer's review is similar. He says parts of the movie fire on all cyllinders, and the performances are strong, but that it's simply too long for its own good. Mintzer calls the film "disjointed [and] occasionally effective" and says that Cluzet is "too over-the-top here." Mark Olsen over at the LA Times is more positive on all fronts though. He only mentions the film's length once, writing that Canet "somehow pulls it all together." And Olsen is particularly kind to Cotillard, writing that she, "gives a performance of acute emotional ability. There is a mischievous playfulness to her performance here, with a deep undercurrent of sadness, which makes for a most remarkable turn." He goes on to suggest that, were the performance in English, Cotillard would be a likely Best Actress hopeful, even in this increasingly overcrowded year that is threatening to push some films (please don't let one of them be this or Rabbit Hole) to 2011 to join Tree of Life.
Additional Reviews: [awaiting]
Toronto Verdict: [awaiting]
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