I figured out pretty quick that this was going to be the typical "chick flick" type of thing but then it started getting annoying because the two main characters didn't have their typical serendipitous meeting that leads them to their happy ending. But I suppose that wouldn't make a lot of sense, since apparently Russians make fun of that staple in many American movies. It also makes this movie more realistic though, in a sense, because stuff like that doesn't really happen to normal people. It did bother me though in the scene right after Max drops the phone into the river and they walk right past each other and its just kinda like, come on...that level of irony seemed a little crazy.That kind of thing doesn't happen in real life either.
Overall, I'd say this one was OK. It was interesting and entertaining enough but it lacked a certain continuity. I couldn't quite figure out Maxim as a character. He seemed kind of just like a regular guy, but then he ha that weird little hole-in-the-wall apartment and strange friends. I guess the best word I can think of for him would be impulsive. He was always just like go with the flow and went with whatever came at him. Masha was eccentric and fun and also a spontaneous type of person, but in a much more lighthearted way that Maxim seemed to be. Maybe that's because we meet him as his girlfriend leaves him for someone else, though.
Visually there were a couple of things in this ilm that I really enjoyed, in prticular the scene where Maxim's "ex" Miranda was sitting with her fiancee, next to that window with all the water running down it. I loved the distortion of the view there, when Maxim shows up creepily watching her through the water, like he is melting away in her mind and replaced by the solid image of the new guy. I also liked the transitions in this with the radio static and the flashes of different buildings in the city. Also, the scene where Maxim is looking around at everything in the city and takes pictures on the phone at interesting angles. I liked seeing more of his viewpoint, and honestly that seemed like something I would totally do in that city, to the point of running into somebody (I've done this before walking around with my Canon...) so I guess that was something relatable for me individually.
I also liked his random German phrases, which he didn't really get right. He was talking about studying English and German, but I'm pretty sure that wasn't true since he didn't say anything in English for the whole movie. He also said lieblings (favorite) wrong, so that it sounded more like lieben (love) and I kind of wonder if they threw that in there on purpose.
This whole movie makes me think of this song with lyrics written by British author Nick Hornby and performed by Ben Folds.
I think the German is supposed to be pretty garbled, particularly when Maksim is speaking it (to emphasize that he's just learning and, even more importantly, that his heart really isn't in to it that much). But maybe he will like it more if he and Masha visit it together one day? :>)
ReplyDeleteAnd I can definitely see how the movie reminds you of that tune (which is very cool video, by the way, thanks for sharing)--though Piter FM ends on a slightly cheerier note (I think!)..