How entertaining? ★★★★★
Thought provoking? ★★☆☆☆ 5 February 2016
A movie review of TRUMAN. |
YouTube review:
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“I used to be a romantic hero,” Julián (Ricardo Darín)
It is rare to say a film about looming death is a lovely experience. TRUMAN joins MY LIFE WITHOUT ME as a moving exercise in a house being put in order. Here, instead of ticking off romantic/personal goals, the dying focus has a friend calm an anxious man. Humour and charisma make time in their company a pleasure. As one watches, admiration cannot but be felt as the tones mix dextrously. On top of the agile script by Tomàs Aragay and Cesc Gay (the latter also directs), the material wows thanks to judicious performances.
It is rare to say a film about looming death is a lovely experience. TRUMAN joins MY LIFE WITHOUT ME as a moving exercise in a house being put in order. Here, instead of ticking off romantic/personal goals, the dying focus has a friend calm an anxious man. Humour and charisma make time in their company a pleasure. As one watches, admiration cannot but be felt as the tones mix dextrously. On top of the agile script by Tomàs Aragay and Cesc Gay (the latter also directs), the material wows thanks to judicious performances.
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Two Argentinian expatriate best pals, separated in two continents, are now reunited in Madrid, Spain. Tomás (Javier Cámara – TALK TO HER) leaves his family in Montreal, Canada and flies in for four days to surprise Julián (Ricardo Darín – THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES). They are so believable as lifelong buds.
The-long-weekend-that-changes-everything subgenre can have a winning vicarious catharsis/escapism (from WONDER BOYS to COMPUTER CHESS). The circumstances here are as a result of Julián wanting to cease his cancer treatment. Tomás presence is to dissuade from such course. Julián argues he is going to die anyway. His most pressing concerns are letting his son, Nico (Oriol Pla), know, and finding a suitable adoption for beloved dog, Truman – a metaphor for those loyal to us in our lives.
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Julián is not a particularly successful thespian, who is particularly bad with money. Even though he sponges off his pal, and exasperates him, we can see how the two compliment one another; as well as why Tomás remains close: Julián has witty frankness. He is one of those cheeky friends who gets away with everything. Cousin to the latter, Paula (Dolores Fonzi), and Tomás have the best of intentions, but the cancer battle has been going on for a year and Julián does not appreciate their entreaties and advice. Examining attitudes to death remains still, if not a taboo, an avoided topic in Western cinema. Julián wants to be involved in his own death arrangements. Incongruously, a big funeral corporation in a very slick, modern office block has honed the process.
Ricardo Darín’s Julián brings debonair charm in spades, reminding of Ahn Sung-kee’s grieving widower in REVIVRE. Tomás observes, “You’re like an extinct species.” Belatedly, Julián wants to put right some of his less proud moments, e.g. sleeping with a friend’s wife. Expecting vitriol, compassion and forgiveness are offered in its place. (One dares you not to have a lump in your throat on multiple occasions.)
Funny and effortlessly moving.
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