The City of Your Final Destination (2009)

This adaptation of Peter Cameron's 2002 novel is the first film from director James Ivory (he's 82 this year by the way) after the passing of his longtime producing partner Ismail Merchant. Over the past two decades, the Merchant-Ivory name was a brand of literary cinema in itself, from which acclaimed works such as "The Remains of the Day" and "Howard's End" were spawned.Unfortunately, this reportedly final film from James ivory will not be remembered in the same light as those aforementioned films- because as much as it tries its best to evoke the same literary feel, this solo venture by James Ivory is too genteel, too wandering, and ultimately too bland to make much of an impact. And that is despite the efforts by a fine cast- the likes of thespian Anthony Hopkins, Laura Linney and French actress Charlotte Gainsburg.In adapting Cameron's novel, longtime Merchant-Ivory screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala keeps her focus on the academic Omar Razaghi (Omar Metwally), a University of Kansas English graduate student who journeys down to Uruguay to meet the family of the late minor novelist Jules Gund. Omar wants to write a biography of the late author- and his academic and financial future depend on it- but the family has thus far refused their permission.Ivory gets the events leading up to Omar's unannounced visit at the Gund estate over and done with quickly, and leaves the rest of the film for his audience to get to know the eccentricities of the Gund family. There, Omar meets Jules' imperious widow, Caroline (Linney), and his mistress Arden (Gainsburg) and her daughter Portia (Ambar Mallman). Not forgetting of course Jules' older brother Adam (Hopkins) and his Japanese lover Pete (Hiroyuki Sanada).Jhabvala's screenplay allows Omar to have plenty of interactions with each one of the Gund family, but these largely lack much sizzle. The most interesting of these is the tension between Omar and Caroline, the widow bristling with hostility especially when she sees how Arden is taking too quickly to Omar. The romance between Omar and Arden however turns out too nondescript, while Omar's talks with Adam mostly centre on Jules' legacy- an unfinished novel and a mysterious suicide. An accident leads to the arrival of Omar's domineering girlfriend (Alexandra Maria Lara), but even this turn of events doesn't quite set the drama afire. Neither does the ensemble cast for that matter. Hopkins is good as always, but his role is hardly much of a stretch for him. Ditto for Linney, who gives the film's sharpest performance as the brittle and thorny widow eager to hide some family secrets. Metwally on the other hand is woefully miscast, his genial performance undermining what potential dramatic moments the film has going for it.Admittedly though there are few- and the fault ultimately lies with director James Ivory's directorial choices. There is little to suggest that we as the audience should care for any of the characters or their dilemmas, which seems trivial and insignificant. The production values here are stellar as with any Ivory film, in particular the evocative cinematography by Javier Aguirresarobe ("Talk to Her," "Vicky Cristina Barcelona")- but the storytelling is ultimately what makes this a forgettable entry in the list of Ivory films.www.moviexclusive.com

The City of Your Final Destination is an excellent, intelligent, adult movie about believable people. The behavior and motivations of the characters are brilliantly presented; totally real people with real emotions and mature concerns. These days we could die waiting for this kind of great movie to come along! The meaning of the word "adult" with reference to movies should be changed to describe this kind of movie rather than the pornography genre that now carries that appellation. What the industry calls "adult" should be changed to "adolescent," a more appropriate term for pornography, so the word "adult" could be freed up to describe movies of this maturity and quality. At least 90% of Hollywood's output is banal commercial junk. But in this movie there are no car chases, barroom brawls, drug addicts, topless bars, shooting and killing, corrupt cops, liars, cheats, con men, muscle men, superheroes, martial arts, gratuitous sex, pretty-faced vapid ingenues trying to pass for professional people such as doctors and scientists, and so on. They even kept the cigarette-smoking to a minimum! But don't mistake my objection to Hollywood as moralistic. I'm talking about intelligence, taste and maturity.

I never thought I would see a movie in which Laura Linney was the weak link. This movie had the potential to be a standard Ivory-Merchant adaptation of a mildly pretentious book of the touchy-feely genre. It looked different in the video store, but that's what it turned out to be. Well, lots of people love that kind of thing; just not me.However, I really do like good actors such as Anthony Hopkins and Laura Linney. Charlotte Gainsbourg is quite good, in her own inimitable and mysterious way. And Alexandra Maria Lara, whom I had never seen before, is outstanding in this flick.The huge disappointment, however, turns out to be Ms. Linney, who I have never seen misfire before. She plays an utterly charmless woman, which she must have seen as an interesting challenge, because she is said to be a very charming person. Unfortunately, she overdoes it, and produces a character repellent beyond belief. Meanwhile, Ms. Lara is showing her how it's done, playing another obnoxious woman, but with the occasional vulnerability that makes us not want to flee whenever she shows up.

I,for one,have always admired Merchant/Ivory productions for it's bravura for taking classic (and even some not so classic)novels,and bringing them to the screen. Despite the sad passing of Ismael Merchant a few years back,James Ivory,and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala have made going to the movies a joy (for the most part). Granted,James Ivory has directed his share of mis-steps (but who hasn't?). This film was actually produced three years ago,but is just now getting distribution. The story focuses on a professor of literature at an un-named college,named Omar Metwally who is trying to get the legal okay to write a biography of an author who only had one novel ever published. Problem is,the family of the author is flatly refusing permission for the novel to be written. When he decides to travel to South America to meet with the family to get permission (not a good idea),he finds out what a dysfunctional family they are (and also finds out the dirty little family secrets,as well as any & all skeletons in the proverbial family closet). When Omar's overbearing girl friend,Deirdre arrives to check on Omar's progress,things get more interesting. James Ivory directs a screenplay written by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala,adapted from the novel by Peter Cameron. The sumptuous photography is courtesy of the ever so fine Javier Aguirresarobe,with editing by John David Allen. The film's musical score is composed & arranged by Jorge Drexler. The great Sir Anthony Hopkins,who is given top credit,is Adam,an aged gay man,living in the shadows of the past,as is his sister in law,Caroline,who gets by with sardonic wit & daily doses of alcohol,played by Laura Linney,who just smacks of queen harpie. Omar Razaghi is Omar Metwally,who is the centre of all of this. Charlotte Gainsbourg,most recently seen in Lars Van Trier's 'Antichrist',is Arden Langdon,a hanger on,as well as an Au Pair to Caroline's daughter. The rest of the cast is rounded out by Hiroyuke Sanada,as Pete,Adam's live in lover,Alexandra Maria Lara,as Dierdre,a pushy,bossy,overbearing woman who seems to be planning Omar's life,and the great Norma Aleandro (not seen enough in this film),as Mrs. Van Euwen,who is always on the make for a romantic fling with just about any man who will acknowledge her. All of this makes for an intelligent & entertaining evening at the movies. Spoken (mostly)in English,and Spanish with English subtitles. Rated PG-13 by the MPAA,for some brief nudity & adult content